Captain James Murphy.

Subject: Captain James Murphy. Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:57 pm

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Posts : 3049 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Littlehand

This is an interesting one.

I have checked the Medal Roll and have found 44 J.Murphy's listed but none to the RMLI.

What makes this interesting is that the Royal Marines Museum, Southsea published this as a showcase for Februray 2010.

The question I ask is Suspect

Have they checked their facts before publishing the article Suspect

I do not have the time to contact them and ask them, so if another member would like to, here is the contact details:

Royal Marines Museum, Southsea
Hampshire, PO4 9PX
T: 023 9281 9385 F: 023 9283 8420
Email: info@royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk
www.royalmarinesmuseum.co.uk

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 58 Location : UK

"Lieutenant-Colonel James Murphy, Royal Marines, mentioned in despatches for his conspicuous and gallant conduct in an action against Chinese pirates, 1869 China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Pekin 1860 (J. Murphy, R.M., H.M.S. Imperieuse) renamed - engraved in a crude style; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (Qr. Mr. J. Murphy, R.M.L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. J. Murphy, R.M.L.I.); Khedives Star 1884-6, unnamed, first with silver brooch bar, contact marks, nearly very fine and better. Footnote: James Murphy joined the Royal Marines as a Drummer in July 1858, transferred to the ranks in 1864 and reached the rank of Colour-Sergeant in 1876. He became Barrack Sergeant in 1879 and was promoted to Quartermaster in 1882. He was appointed 1st Quartermaster at the Portsmouth Division in 1888 and was promoted to Honorary Captain in 1892 and Honorary Major in 1896, retiring in November 1899. Murphy served in the latter part of the China War 1860 (medal and clasp) and also in the operations against the Taiping Rebels, 1861-63, seeing action at the capture of the walled cities of Kah-ding, Singpoe and Chaolin, the entrenched camps at Wong-ka-dza and Lee-ka-kong, the stockades at Nahzian, the fortified towns of Kiachiao, Siotang and Tser-poo (slightly wounded), together with other minor affairs. Also in action with pirates in China, 1868-70, including the capture of five large junks at Gowtow, Gulf of Tonquin, 12 June 1869 - having swum off and reconnoitred at night, these junks were boarded: a landing party after a brisk fight with the pirates on shore, having boarded one junk turned her guns on the others. For his actions he was Recommended for some special mark of approval in Despatches from H.M. Gunboat Bouncer to Admiral Sir H. Keppel, 15 July 1869, on account of conspicuous and gallant conduct. He served in the R.M. Battalion sent to South Africa for special service in the Zulu War, June-August 1879 and was awarded the medal for long service and good conduct. He then served as Quartermaster in the R.M. Battalion in the defence of Suakin and the operations in the Eastern Sudan, 1884 (Medal and Khedives Star). Having retired from active service he was employed as Secretary to the Inspector-General, Royal Hoospital, Haslar, May 1903-May 1911. During the Great War he was appointed Recruiting Staff Officer at Brighton in April 1915 and was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1916, relinquishing his rank in October 1919. His name was brought to the notice of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for valuable services rendered during the Great War. Latterly living at 91 Festing Grove, Southsea, Lieutenant-Colonel James Murphy died on 26 November 1925"

Guest

Colour-Sergeant James Murphy was a member of the Marine Battalion sent to South Africa for the Zulu war. The Battalion departed England in June 1879 on HMS Jumna. On 7 July "Jumna" arrived at Simon's Bay. On the 18th of July Sir Garnet Wolseley notified the Duke of Cambridge that he was reducing the forces in South Africa, and he was therefore sending the Battalion of Marines back to England. The Marine Battalion departed Simon's Bay 24 July on HMS Jumna, returning to England. "Jumna" Arrived at Plymouth 22 Aug, and at Portsmouth 24 August 1879. The Marine Battalion, as well as the crew of "Jumna" were not entitled to the South Africa Medal.

Any time you see the notation: "He served in the R.M. Battalion sent to South Africa for special service in the Zulu War, June-August 1879" you can be pretty sure that marine was one of over 1,000 officers and men of the Royal Marine Light Infantry from Portsmouth, Chatham and Plymouth, and the Royal Marine Artillery from the Eastney Barracks who were sent out on the "Jumna, but never got the opportunity to participate in the war.

Petty Officer Tom