In Courmas British Cemetery, Marne, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 92951 Robert Henry Murphy serving with the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 21/07/1918.

He was the son of Hugh and Mary Ann Murphy, of 2, Miner’s Homes, Prudhoe on Tyne, Northumberland.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Robert Henry Murphy was the youngest of his 5 siblings, of whom only 3 had survived by 1911. 

His father Hugh Murphy Snr was born in Ireland in circa 1846-1848. Having left his home country, at the age of 24 he was living as a boarder in the town of Port Clarence, Stockton, historically in County Durham. Widow Ellen Dailey ran the establishment and he was one of 12 boarders all of whom were employed at the iron works. 

In 1880 Hugh was married in the district of Sunderland to Mary Ann Walker, born at Kendal, Westmoreland in circa 1853-1855. They settled at Smelter Works Road, Sunderland, where Hugh was a general labourer, but had moved to the district of Gateshead, historically in County Durham by the time their daughter Mary Eliza was born in 1882 at Wrekenton. 

As an unskilled worker constantly in search of employment, Hugh Snr and his family were frequently on the move. Hugh Jnr was born in 1884 at Seaton near Sunderland, but tragically died in 1891 in the district of Stockton soon after they had left their home at Salter’s Road (Back), Trimdon Grange Colliery, he was only 8 years old. 

Over the next 10 years Mary Ann gave birth to a further 3 children, James William and Frederick at Moorsley, May 15th 1892 and 1895 respectively and Robert Henry in 1899 at West Rainton. Tragically within months of his birth their daughter Eliza Jane (16) died. In 1901 they were still living at West Rainton at Nicholson’s Street, Hugh was employed as a fireman below ground at the pit. Only James William (18), a hewer and Fred (16) a stone-man, were living with their parents at 18, Grieve Row, Dudley, in 1911, Hugh Snr was working above ground as a screener. The whereabouts of Robert Henry is unknown.

After the declaration of war, August 4th 1914, all regiments were ordered to raise new battalions in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms. Robert Henry was only 14/15 years of age, far too young to enlist. He presented himself at Newcastle upon Tyne, June 31st 1915 declaring that he was born in West Rainton, County Durham, June 16th 1897, intimating he was 18 years of age and eligible to enlist. Although the recruitment Sergeants were non too particular about who they enlisted as they received a shilling for each man, Robert Henry was certainly assisted by his appearance, although only 15 years of age he was 5 feet 6 and a half inches tall. He requested to be assigned for General Service with the Northumberland Fusiliers which indeed he was a Private 22323, joining his regiment that same day at their Depot in Newcastle. Two weeks later he was compulsorily transferred to the 7th (Reserve) Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment of the Territorial Force and sent to Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, although the main body of the regiment had departed to France, April 15th 1915.

Assigned to the British Expeditionary Force, Private Murphy joined the West Yorkshire Regiment in France, December 8th 1916 and although trained as a bomb-thrower was posted to the 21st Pioneer Battalion of the 4th Division. Spring 1917 they were in the Arras sector, the Pioneers were engaged in digging tunnels and trenches in the area of the Lens coalfields. The Battles of Arras commenced April 9th 1917 during which Private Murphy was injured, a gunshot wound to the buttock, and repatriated to England April 18th 1917.

He was sufficiently recovered by July 2nd 1917 to be posted to the 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment stationed at Whitley Bay, historically in Northumberland, as part of the coastal defences and where he remained until posted back to the 7th (Reserve) Battalion, August 25th 1917.

November 9th 1917 he transferred to the Durham Light Infantry as Private 5/118213 posted to the 53rd Battalion. The newly formed 53rd Graduate Battalion D.L.I. remained at Rugeley training new recruits. Robert Henry was granted leave and spent Christmas 1917 with his brother James William’s family. His nephew Robert Jefferson K. Murphy who was born after his uncle’s demise, recalled his elder brother James William Jnr telling him, his last recollection of his uncle Robert was, “seeing him wave goodbye from the top of Algernon Terrace and disappearing around the corner.” They never saw him again.

As of March 21st 1918 there was a desperate need for replacements on the Western Front, the Germans had once again mounted an attack on the Somme, to this effect the age for overseas service was dropped from 19 years to 18 years and men from the 53rd became eligible to serve overseas.

Private Murphy, who was now 18 years of age, as part of the B.E.F. departed to France, April 5th 1918 where he was assigned a new service number 92951 and posted to the 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, a Territorial Force battalion which had been on the Western Front since April 1915, assigned to the 63rd (West Riding) Division as Pioneers. July 1918 the division was sent south to join the French Army on the Marne and the Pioneers were called upon to fight as infantry.

Private 92951 Robert Henry Murphy Durham Light Infantry was killed July 21st 1918 during the Battle of Tardenois, part of the Battles of the Marne, July 20th-30th 1918. He was buried on the battlefield by his comrades, a cross bearing his name and military details marking the spot. 

After the Armistice of November 11th 1918, at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing of the battlefields began. Isolated graves and smaller concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries for reburial. Robert Henry’s parents would have been informed as to the necessity that the body of their late son be exhumed and assured this and his reburial would be undertaken with all honour and reverence in the presence of an Army Chaplain. October 24th 1919 the work undertaken was complete, Private R.H. Murphy was laid to rest within the newly formed Courmas British Cemetery, grave II. I. 6. At the time of his demise in 1918 he was 19 years of age and single.

His father Hugh received all monies due to his late son from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 18, Grieves Row, Dudley, County Durham. Robert Henry’s mother applied for and was awarded a pension of 7 shillings a week as of June 25th 1919 for life, sent to the new family address of 2, Aged Miners Homes, Prudhoe on Tyne, Northumberland. 

Mary Ann Murphy nee Walker died in 1919 aged 66 years and the pension passed to widower Hugh Murphy. It was increased over the years and in 1921 he was receiving 13 shillings 10 pence a week. Hugh Murphy died in 1928 aged 82 years, both deaths were registered in the district of Hexham, Northumberland.

Although Robert Henry’s brothers were also eligible to serve no record has been found at this time. 

It should be noted that the ages of Hugh and Mary Ann fluctuated in the census submissions. This is not unusual as many people at the time did not know their actual age, some neither where they were born. An error in the 1911 census lists Hugh and Mary Ann’s son James William and his brother Fred Murphy as their nephews.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Robert Henry Murphy is remembered as R. Murphy at Dudley on D34.01, in the 9th Battalion Book of Remembrance page 30 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 189