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Coolness and courage

Private Frank Murphy.png

Private John Francis ‘Frank’ Patrick Murphy

Private  Frank Murphy was the son of Margaret Murphy, of Alonnah, Bruny Island, Tasmania. Frank worked as farm labourer before enlisting on 30 March1916.

Private Murphy embarked from Hobart with D Company, 40th Battalion, on HMAT Berrima on 1 July 1916.

On 1 November 1916 he was taken on strength of the 49th Battalion. He was killed in action by a shell at Messines Ridge, Belgium, on 7 June 1917, at the age of 19.

His platoon commander stated that “his coolness and courage was greatly admired by all his comrades”.

On 2 May 1921, Margaret Murphy applied for a war gratuity stating she was his “mother and was dependent on him at the time of his death”.

Private Murphy is commemorated at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium.

Acknowledgement

Bruny Island Historical Society