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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 32

(x) Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Talana, Transvaal (5369 Pte J. Murphy, Rl. Irish Fus;), very fine

James Murphy was born circa 1877 in Monaghan, Ulster and worked as a labourer before he enlisted into the 5th Battalion, Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusiliers. He served at home between August 1895 - February 1898 after which he served in Egypt between February 1898 and September 1899. He was then posted to South Africa, where he served in the Second Boer War. At some time, Murphy likely transferred to the 1st Battalion as this battalion, along with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, made a frontal attack at the Battle of Talana Hill, fighting their way upwards despite heavy rifle fire from above. The Boers abandoned their positions at the top of the hill marking Britain's victory in this first major engagement of the war. Afterwards, Murphy transferred to the Transvaal region but later became injured. In a letter submitted to a court proceeding inquiring about the circumstances in which Murphy became injured, he pens:

"The[re] was a sudden stampede of all the mules, and one of the mules [of] the 10th Mountain Battery R.A. carrying one of the wheels of the guns, made a sudden turn and knocked against my mule, causing the wheel to fall off, and [kn]ocked my right foot wounding me very severely... preventing me from walking. I managed to [cr]awl up the hill, eventually rejoined my [company] by daylight.

After the incident, Murphy spent four months in hospital before being released on the 6 June 1900 and returning to Armagh, still with considerable pain in his right foot. In September he was furloughed for two months on the capitation that he joined the battalion at Dublin. He served with them until February 1901 before he got another month's sick leave, again due to his injury to his right foot. He spent several months in the Royal Infirmary Hospital until the 3 September 1901, the day he wrote the letter. The court proceedings were settled with Colonel J. R. Jameson concluding that:

"I am of opinion (1) that 5369 J Murphy RIF was on duty at the time the accident occurred; (2) that the injury was the result of circumstances beyond his own control; and (3) that the injury is not likely to interfere with his future efficiency as a soldier. (4) I therefore recommend the permission of the whole of the Hospital stoppages."

Murphy was later declared medically unfit of service on 15 November 1901. However, upon the outbreak of the Great War, Murphy enlisted into the Labour Corps on 30 November 1914, aged circa 39 years old. Before enlisting, he had been working in Nottingham, England as a town labourer. Murphy served throughout the war and finally discharged from service on 11 December 1918 having been declared medically unfit.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240