Michael MURPHY

Regimental number2277
Place of birthBallina, Co Mayo, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationEngineer
Address275 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27
Height5' 5.5"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinFather, Michael Murphy, 245 King Street, Birmingham, England
Enlistment date13 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentSapper
Unit name2nd Field Company Engineers, Reinforcement 11
AWM Embarkation Roll number14/21/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll12th Field Company Engineers
FateReturned to Australia 28 March 1919
Discharge date30 June 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 2nd Field Company Engineers, 6 March 1916; transferred to 5th Division Engineers, 10 March 1916.

Appointed Temporary Lance Corporal, 19 April 1916; promoted Temporary Sergeant, 7 May 1916.

Promoted Temporary Company Quartermaster Sergeant, and appointed to substantive rank, 7 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 4 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France (date not recorded).

Admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Bulford, 6 February 1917, while on leave in England; discharged to No 4 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 9 April 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 60 days.

Admitted to Endell Street Military Hospital, 7 May 1917 (pleurisy); marched into Engineers Training Depot, Brightlingsea, from hospital, 21 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 4 August 1917; rejoined 12th Field Company Engineers, in the field, 23 August 1917.

Found guilty, 14 September 1917. of when on Active Service being absent without leave from 12 noon, 14 September, to 7 am, 15 September 1917: severely reprimanded.

Reverted to Corporal, 24 September 1917; promoted Temporary Sergeant, 30 April 1918; Sergeant, 12 July 1918.

Detached to Royal Engineers School, Rouen, 6 August 1918.

Found guilty, 22 August 1918, of when on Active Service absenting himself from Field Works when under instruction from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm, 21 August 1918: reprimanded.

Rejoined unit from detachment, 6 September 1918.

On leave to United Kingdom, 22 September 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 7 October 1918.

Admitted to 12th Australian Field Ambulance, 11 November 1918 (impetigo), and transferred same day to 41st Stationary Hospital; to Ambulance Train No 8, 13 November 1918, and admitted to 12th General Hospital, Rouen, 14 November 1918; transferred to 6th General Hospital, Rouen, 17 November 1918 (influenza); to England, 14 December 1918.

[Remainder of form B103 missing from file].

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Karoa', 28 March 1919; disembarked Fremantle, 30 April 1919; discharged (medically unfit), Perth, 30 June 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNext of kin subsequently changed ('father unable to be located') to Mrs Jones, Aunt, 60 Armoury Road, Smallheath, Birmingham, England.
Date of death23 January 1969
Place of burialPoint Clare Cemetery
SourcesNAA: B2455, MURPHY Michael