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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 376

A superbly well-documented family collection

Three: Joiner Class IV J. S. Murphy, Royal Navy, later Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who served with H.M.S. Dublin at the Battle of Jutland and later met a fellow Jutland veteran, H.M. King George VI, while serving in the R.A.F.V.R. during the Second World War and later died of illness attributed to his war service

1914-15 Star (M.15882, J. Murphy, Car. Cr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.15882 J. Murphy. Jr. 4 R.N.), heavy pitting and contact wear, good fine (3)

Four: Lance Corporal R. J. Murphy, Home Guard, later Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with named and addressed box of issue and dog tags, good very fine (4)

John Swinburne Murphy was born at Sunderland in 1892 and moved to Barry, Glamorgan with his family in 1898, being educated at Holton Road School. Enlisting with the Merchant Navy prior to the outbreak of the Great War he worked as a joiner but attested with the Royal Navy on 14 October 1915. Soon posted to the Light Cruiser Dublin he joined her during the as she underwent repairs after being torpedoed in the Adriatic.

Murphy was present for the Battle of Jutland in which Dublin served with the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron alongside Southampton and Nottingham. Together with the former vessel she managed to sink a German destroyer but in turn to took severe hits from the cruisers Elbing and Stuttgart. Dublin fired 117 shots from her 6-inch guns and lost three crew members dead and 27 wounded.

Going ashore in December 1916 Murphy remained there at Vivid II until 18 September 1917 when he was posted to the Light Cruiser Carysford, remaining with her as she operated in the Channel and North Sea for the rest of the war. He was demobilised on 8 February 1919 and returned to 14 Everard Street, Barry where he had three sons.

Re-enlisting in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 19 September 1941 he was discharged due to ill health and was posted as a Civilian Instructor to R.A.F. St. Athan. Here he continued to work as a craftsman and was subject to a Royal Handshake as reported in several newspapers, one of which relates:

'When His Majesty King George VI was inspecting the Airmen at a South Wales R.A.F. Station last week he shook hands with a Barry man who shares with him the distinction of having taken part in the memorable sea battle of Jutland.
The King heard that Mr Jack [SIC] Murphy, of Barry Road, Barry, a civilian carpentry instructor, had served in the Navy during the Great War and he interrupted his inspection to shake hands with Mr Murphy and ask him how he liked his new job.'

Sadly by 1944 Murphy's health was poor enough for him be discharged again. He was fortunate to have survived both wars however his second term of service eventually proved too much and he died in 1949, his death was attributed to his wartime service and his family received a King’s Commemorative Scroll as a result; sold together with a large archive of original material comprising:

i)
Newspaper articles relating to the visit of the King in 1940.

ii)
Original Service Record.

iii)
Handwritten correspondence.

iv)
A large number of photographs.

v)
A framed photograph of Murphy shaking hands with King George VI.

vi)
Certificate of Discharge.

vii)
Royal Air Force leave pass.

viii)
National Insurance Card.

ix)
Certificate of Discharge.

x)
Pension documents confirm aggravation of a longstanding condition due to war service.

xi)
Commemorative Scroll.

xii)
Barry Island Certificate of Service.

Ronald John Murphy was born in 1921 when the family was living on Barry, he served for a time in the Home Guard and further joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. However, when he was called up for service it was to the Royal Air Force where, due to his skill with boats, he was posted to the Air Sea Rescue. Serving first in various coastal regions, including Bristol, he was later transferred to Korangi Creek, Karachi.

Flying his rescue missions over the Indian Ocean Murphy was to serve there for the rest of the war from 1942-45; sold together with a comprehensive archive including.

i)
Home Guard armbands and chevrons.

ii)
Correspondence and mobilisation orders relating to the Local Defence Force and Home Guard.

iii)
A large collection of photographs include the recipient in the Home Guard, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Royal Air Force, many annotated.

iv)
Postcards from the recipient to his family.

v)
copied research relating to the recipient's genealogy.

vi)
Barry Island certificate of service.

vii)
Newspaper cuttings.

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Sold for
£180

Starting price
£100