May 10, 1875

Born in Wexford, Ireland

Mar 28, 1916

Attested into the 146^th Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 835815

Ø  Next of kin given as Kate Murphy, mother, Mung St., Wexford, Ireland

Ø  Previous occupation given as Painter

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Jun 5, 1916

Sentenced to 14 days detention

Aug 10, 1916

Admitted to the Valcartier, Quebec Camp Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Hemorrhoids

Aug 11, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 21, 1916

Transferred to the 239^th Battalion in Valcartier, Quebec

Sep 22, 1916

Struck Off Strength as a deserter

This was later discovered to be in error as he had been admitted to the Ongwanada Hospital in Kingston, Ontario with a diagnosis that reads Fractured Leg

Oct 2, 1916

Taken On Strength No. 3 Special Service Company in Kingston

Oct 5, 1916

Discharged from hospital

Attested into the 155^th Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 637220

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. David Haron, sister, 21 Stirling St., Liverpool, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Painter

Ø  Previous military experience given as 146^th Battalion CEF for 6 months

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Oct 17, 1916

Embarked the SS Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 28, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott

Dec 5, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Dec 6, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength of the 21^st Battalion

Dec 8, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Murphy joined the 21^st Battalion resting in Bully Grenay, France

Dec 13, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Impetigo

Dec 22, 1916

Discharged to duty and rejoined the 21^st Battalion

Dec 2, 1917

Granted 14 days leave

Dec 21, 1917

Rejoined the battalion resting in Auchy au Bois, France from leave

Mar 3, 1918

Attached to the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company for duty

Mar 10, 1918

Rejoined the battalion from the tunnelling company

Apr 14, 1918

While in the front line trench near Mercatel, France, Private Murphy was hit by shrapnel that fractured his left arm and was evacuated to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station

Apr 16, 1918

Transferred to the No. 2 General Hospital in Havre, France

Apr 17, 1918

Surgery performed to remove bone chips and repair damage to his arm

Apr 24, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Andrew

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the King George’s Hospital in London

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

May 14, 1918

Transferred to the No. 16 Canadian General (Ontario Military) Hospital in Orpington

May 29, 1918

Surgery performed to drain an abscess and repair damage to his left arm

Jun 21, 1918

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool and VDH (Valvular Disease of the Heart) with an audible murmur was added to the diagnosis

After being admitted to the hospital, he disappeared and was declared to be Absent Without Leave

Jul 7, 1918

Returned to the hospital and forfeited 34 days pay for his absence

Jul 16, 1918

Missing from bed check and declared to be illegally absent

Aug 11, 1918

Returned to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital from being absent

Forfeited a total of 52 days pay for his absence

Sep 7, 1918

Missing from bed check and declared to be illegally absent

Sep 8, 1918

Returned to the hospital and forfeited 4 days pay for his absence

Sep 23, 1918

Embarked the SS Tunisian in London

Oct 7, 1918

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Oct 10, 1918

Admitted to the Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

After being assessed, was granted leave until October 24, 1918

Oct 24, 1918

Transferred to the Sir Sandford Flemming Convalescent Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario

Dec 2, 1918

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the Military District No. 3 Casualty Company in Kingston

Dec 7, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 21 Sterling St., Liverpool, England

Following the end of the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 21 Sterling St., Liverpool, England

Interestingly, his character on discharge was described as “Very Good”, despite have been in detention and Absent Without Leave several times.

Nov 31, 1952

James Murphy died while a patient of the Enniscorthy Ireland Mental Hospital of Myocardial Degeneration and Senility