Photo : Maureen Cozens
Owen Murphy with his Father on left seated
Gold Pendant given from a German POW
Medal Index Card
Newcastle Journal Monday 28/10/1918
Owen Murphy was born on the 10th April 1889 at Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, the son of John Murphy, [born 1864 in Ireland], a Coal Hewer, and his wife Ann [Annie] Murphy, [nee Woods, born 1863 in Newcastle]. He was baptised at St Michael's Catholic Church, Houghton-le-Spring 20th April 1889. His parents were married in 1885. They had 8 children but three died very young.
In 1891, Owen's mother Annie was residing with her eldest daughter, Mary and the two youngest boys Sonney and Joe at 81 Hedley Street, South Shields.
Owen Murphy, Anthony Murphy, born 1st Quarter 1891, Annie Murphy, born 1893, Lily Murphy, born 1895, and John William Murphy, born 1897, all born at South Shields, Durham, another child named Mary the eldest was born on the 24th February 1886, [she married a Richard Hackett, born 1886 at Barrow-in-Furness, but were residing in 1911, at 21 Charles Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland. His parents were John and Jane Ann Hackett, and Richard was the youngest of 4 children. Richard died on the 28th February 1949 at Sunderland, then residing at 16 Leechmore Road North, they had one son Richard Hackett born on the 7th May 1917, who was an apprentice Shipbuilding Draughtsman]. Sonney was born in 1890, another son Joe was born at 81 Hedley Street, South Shields March 1891. Sonney and Joe both died at an early age. The family moved to South Shields about 1890, after April.
By 1901, they were all residing at 18 Wene Terrace, Murton Colliery. The father was employed at Murton Colliery.
By 1911, Owen's mother Annie, had died and his father John, a widower, were now residing at 23 Tees Street, Horden, Durham. All three of them John, Owen, Anthony were all working at the same Colliery, John was a Coal Hewer, Owen was a Machinist Miner and Anthony was a Pump man below ground.
Owen emigrated to the United States, influenced by his grandmother's friend, who had already emigrated to America, sending back 'glowing' tales of the New World, to be a miner in the county of Vermillion in the state of Indiana as he passed the Office of Miners Examining Board on the 3rd September 1913. Being awarded certificate number 1522. This allowed him to perform his duties as a miner in any of the State of Indiana Mines. He travelled on the SS Baltic ship nu 118101, from Liverpool to New York arriving in 1912.
When the War broke out, Owen returned to England and enlisted into the 13th Battalion (Service) Northumberland Fusiliers at Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in September 1914, as a private with the service number 10952.
The 12th and 13th (Service) Battalions were formed at Newcastle on the 22nd September 1914, as part of Kitchener's Third New Army – K3 – and were assigned to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division at Halton Park. They moved to France from Folkestone to Boulogne on the 9th September, 1915. They were amalgamated on the 1st August 1917 as the 12th/13th (Service) Battalion. The combined battalion remained in the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division on the Western Front for the rest of the war. The 12th/13th Battalion was disbanded at Catterick on 1 May 1919.
Battles Of The Hindenburg Line - Battle Of The Canal Du Nord - 27th September 1918.
Location: Sauchy-Lestrée. In early September 1918, the German Army had been forced out of all the territory gained during it's Spring Offensive and had retreated back to the Hindenburg Line.One portion of this was on the eastern bank of the partially built Canal du Nord. Begun in 1913 to link the Oise River with the Dunkirk-Scheldt Canal, construction had been halted on the outbreak of war.
During their retreat the Germans had destroyed all the bridges over the canal and made the area north of Sains-lès-Marquion virtually impassable by deliberately damming and flooding it. Halting their advance to put preparations in place for assaulting the canal, on 27th September the Allies launched their attack on the Hindenburg Line.
He was promoted to a Corporal whilst in the 13th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, but at a later time was demoted to the ranks, for complaining about equipment for his men.
Owen married on the 17th March 1915, whilst on leave, at St Columbas Roman Catholic Church, Carville Road, Wallsend, Margaret Taylor, born 1897, Willington Square, Willington Quay, [her father John Welsh Taylor, had died by the time his daughter got married, was employed by John Redhead, the shipbuilders]. When they got married her parents were concerned at her young age. She worked in a restaurant in Whitley Bay, they met when she was just 14. Owen had entered his address where he was stationed, 47 Wingrove Road, New Mill, Tring.
Owen and his wife Margaret were residing at 51 Bertram Street, South Shields, Durham. In 1917 they had a son called Owen and a daughter.
He was transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in about January 1918 after being wounded and being invalided home to a hospital on the South Coast, in February 1918. His wife travelled to spend some time with him while he recovered. Whilst Owen was in hospital, he gave a tiny gold pendant, which was given to Owen by a German Prisoner of War for an act of kindness, unrecorded, to his wife to pass on to his grandparents for looking after his son and his wife.
His daughter, was born 5th November 1918, but Owen never knew her.
Owen was killed 27th September 1918. Just two days before he wrote his last letter to his wife.
They were residing at 24 South Frederick Street, South Shields, and his wife now a widow was still residing at this address in 1922, when she finally received his last Medal entitlement.
Footnote: He has two Medal Cards, one spelt incorrectly and the other Index card with his correct surname.
Thanks to Maureen Cozens
Owen Murphy is remembered at South Shields on S86.009 and S86.049
