Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/8/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Murphy was born at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham July 31st 1888, one of 12 children of whom only 6 survived, he was the youngest of 5 sons and had 1 older sister. His father James was born at Magherafelt, Derry, Northern Ireland, April 25th 1852, later brought to England by his parents, Thomas and Bridget Murphy. He was married at Gateshead in 1872 to Mary Lennighan (transcribed in error as Lannaghan), born 1853 at Heworth, Gateshead, the daughter of Henry and Margaret Lennighan, British Subjects born in India in 1794.
James was employed at the chemical works as a labourer whilst living at John Street, Felling. Unfortunately, he died October 30th 1888 at 22 Wesley Street, aged only 36 years leaving his widow with new born infant William, sons Thomas (13), James (11), Henry (9), Bernard (7) and daughter Margaret (3). In 1901 Mary was living at 32, Gosforth Street, Felling, she and her youngest children William and Margaret were supported by James employed as a turner, Henry and Bernard as coal miners, Thomas, the eldest, had married and was living at Heworth Street, Felling with his wife and 2 children. By 1911 she had left Felling and was living in 3 rooms at 44, Pine Street, Teams, Gateshead, only William (22) employed as a barman and Bernard (30) a coal hewer were unmarried, to assist with the household chores they had a live in domestic, Rose Ann O’Hare.
William was married, exact date unknown, to Eliza, they settled at Gateshead, however, on the outbreak of war he enlisted at Walker, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, firstly assigned as Private 53168 to the Training Reserve, South Wales Borderers. The main body of men departed for France, September 25th 1915, attached to the 76th Brigade, 25th Division. Private Murphy departed during 1916 and may have participated with his battalion during the defence of the German attack at Vimy Ridge, May 1916 before moving to the Somme. They joined the battle just after the main attack with the 75th Brigade at Thiepval, July 3rd 1916, which proved very costly before participating at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 27th-September 3rd and at Ancre Heights October 1st-18th 1916. During 1917 they were moved to Belgium where they fought at Messines June 7th-14th followed by the 3rd Battle of Ypres, a phase of the Battle of Passchendaele, July 1st -November 10th 1917.
Private 40903 William Murphy South Wales Borderers was killed in action July 6th 1917 and interred at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave I. D. 3. He was 28 years old.
His widow Eliza received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their child, name and gender unknown, and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 22, Mitchell Street, Walker, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917 carries a notice which reads:
“Private William Murray, killed in action, July 6th, aged 28 years. Husband of Eliza Murphy of Walker and son of Mary and the late James Murphy of Felling.”
William Murphy is remembered in Felling on F32.06
