Michael's Story.
5827 Private Michael Murphy, 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, died from hemiplegia (paralysis) at No 1 Stationary Hospital, Charlestown, Natal aged 24 years. On some memorials, and in this newspaper report, he is shown as Private M Murphy 5827. In others, his name is recorded as Private D Murphy 5827.
Michael Murphy was born on 4th February 1877, in Greenore, Wicklow, Ireland, and was baptised the following day 5th February at Carlingford South, Armargh. He was the son of Michael Murphy (1841–1915) and Jane Hogan (1848 - 1905), who came from Catholic families in Ireland. Michael was the fourth of their eleven children, and brother to Elizabeth Mary (Lizzie) (1868–1933), Patrick John (1872–), Ann (1874–1932), Jane, John (1881–), Mary and Bernard (1888–1919).
By 1881, the Murphy family was living in Northwich where Michael senior was a labourer at a chemical works. By the census of 1891, their address had changed from 9 Crum Hill, Northwich to 16 Church Hill, Witton St Helen, Northwich. Michael senior later lived with his youngest children at 5 Cross Street, Northwich (1901) and 12 Church Walk (1911). His youngest son John suffered from incurable paralysis, perhaps a genetic condition that also affected Michael.
Private Michael Murphy enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fuseliers on 2nd September 1898. His battalion deployed to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the SS Oriental on 22nd October 1899. They arrived at the Cape about 13th November 1899. They were sent on to Durban, and along with the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, formed the 6th Brigade under Major General Barton. They were part of the Ladysmith relief force. They fought at the battle of Colenso on 15th December 1899 and in the Battle of Tugela Heights, the final breakthrough battle to Ladysmith on 13-27th February 1900. Shortly before the battalion was taken round to the Cape Colony and concentrated at Kimberley, taking part in the relief of Mafeking. They fought at the battle of Rooidam on 5th May 1900 and took part in the arduous pursuit of De Wet in Aug 1900.
Private Michael Murphy died aged 24 years from hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body, typically caused by stroke or meningitis, or trauma to the brain). He was being cared for at No 1 Stationary Hospital, Charlestown, Natal. He was buried in Charlestown, but his remains were later reinterred in Newcastle.
The Army Record of Deceased Soldier's Effects lists his parents as next of kin, indicating that Michael was unmarried.
He is commemorated (as M Murphy) on the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Boer War memorial in St Giles Church, Church Street, Wrexham, Wales (below), and (as D Murphy) on the Welsh National Boer War memorial in King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff.
His name, listed as M.Murphy, appears on the Northwich Memorial plaque in St Helen's Church, Witton.
Researched by Shena Lewington (November 2026)
Michael Murphy was born on 4th February 1877, in Greenore, Wicklow, Ireland, and was baptised the following day 5th February at Carlingford South, Armargh. He was the son of Michael Murphy (1841–1915) and Jane Hogan (1848 - 1905), who came from Catholic families in Ireland. Michael was the fourth of their eleven children, and brother to Elizabeth Mary (Lizzie) (1868–1933), Patrick John (1872–), Ann (1874–1932), Jane, John (1881–), Mary and Bernard (1888–1919).
By 1881, the Murphy family was living in Northwich where Michael senior was a labourer at a chemical works. By the census of 1891, their address had changed from 9 Crum Hill, Northwich to 16 Church Hill, Witton St Helen, Northwich. Michael senior later lived with his youngest children at 5 Cross Street, Northwich (1901) and 12 Church Walk (1911). His youngest son John suffered from incurable paralysis, perhaps a genetic condition that also affected Michael.
Private Michael Murphy enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fuseliers on 2nd September 1898. His battalion deployed to South Africa for the Second Anglo Boer War, sailing on the SS Oriental on 22nd October 1899. They arrived at the Cape about 13th November 1899. They were sent on to Durban, and along with the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, and 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, formed the 6th Brigade under Major General Barton. They were part of the Ladysmith relief force. They fought at the battle of Colenso on 15th December 1899 and in the Battle of Tugela Heights, the final breakthrough battle to Ladysmith on 13-27th February 1900. Shortly before the battalion was taken round to the Cape Colony and concentrated at Kimberley, taking part in the relief of Mafeking. They fought at the battle of Rooidam on 5th May 1900 and took part in the arduous pursuit of De Wet in Aug 1900.
Private Michael Murphy died aged 24 years from hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body, typically caused by stroke or meningitis, or trauma to the brain). He was being cared for at No 1 Stationary Hospital, Charlestown, Natal. He was buried in Charlestown, but his remains were later reinterred in Newcastle.
The Army Record of Deceased Soldier's Effects lists his parents as next of kin, indicating that Michael was unmarried.
He is commemorated (as M Murphy) on the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Boer War memorial in St Giles Church, Church Street, Wrexham, Wales (below), and (as D Murphy) on the Welsh National Boer War memorial in King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff.
His name, listed as M.Murphy, appears on the Northwich Memorial plaque in St Helen's Church, Witton.
Researched by Shena Lewington (November 2026)