Pte 23877 Joseph James Murphy

• Age: 24
• From: Ballyboy, Co. Tyrone
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 3rd July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph James was born in Ballyboy, County Tyrone, in about 1892 the son of Samuel and Sarah Jane Murphy, Ballyboy, Co. Tyrone. 

The only Joseph J. Murphy is Ballyboy with the right parents in 1901 shows father Samuel, 53, a farmer, and Sarah Jane, 43, living at ‘a house 5 in Ballyboy (Caledon, Tyrone)'.  Son William J. is 22, daughter Annie E. is 16, Joseph J. is 12, and Mary L. is 10.  Their religion is listed as Irish Church. However, Joseph’s age does not agree with the age given by CWGC.

In 1911, Samuel (58 years – sic) and Sarah Jane live at House 4, Ballyboy, Caledon with their children Samuel, 31 years; and Mary Lucinda, 20 years. There is no reference to either Joseph James orhis brother, David.

A newspaper obituary states that Joseph lived in Whiterock Street, Everton before enlisting.

The electoral roll of 1914-15  shows a John J Murphy at 54 White Rock Street (& 12 Lombard Street) but there is no Murphy at that address in 1911.

Joseph enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23877 he trained in the UK, and went to France with his battalion, reaching Boulogne on 7^th November 1915.

His pension card shows his date of death as 1/7/1916, and cause of death shell shock. However, CWGC show his death as 03rd July 1916.

His mother, Mrs. Sarah Jane Murphy, of Ballyboy, received his pension but the Register of Soldiers Effects shows that monies due to him were sent to his brother, David. Probate Records show that administration of the estate of Joseph James Murphy of 17 White Rock Street, Liverpool, 20th Battalion KLR, was granted on 18th October 1916 to his brother David. His estate amounted to £104 14s 5d. This would suggest that David was living in England and therefore it was more convenient for him to administer the estate..

Joseph’s body was never recovered or was subsequently lost, and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Joseph earned his three medals.

His effects went to his brother David.. 

Joseph is commemorated on Ireland’s National Roll of Honour.

Find A Grave shows Joseph James as having died on 1st July 1916, and the family headstone in the churchyard of St John’s Church of Ireland, Caledon, Tyrone, shows Samuel, 1923; Sarah Jane, died 1925; Samuel (their son) died 1958; and Joseph James “killed in France 01.07.1916”, which strongly suggests that the family were informed of his death on 1st July.

We currently have no further information on Joseph James Murphy, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.