Thomas Murphy

Private, 2nd Battalion. 24th Regiment

VC
Register No.
904 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Private all Privates →
Unit
2nd Battalion. 24th Regiment (register: 24th Regiment of Foot) all 24th Regiment of Foot VCs →
Date of action
7 May 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
Conflict / campaign
Andaman Islands Expedition
London Gazette
the 17th December, 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
Born
in 1839 in Dublin Ireland
Died
22nd March 1900 in Philadelphia, United States of America
Memorial / grave
not known

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

MURPHY, Thomas. (reg No. 904).

Private. 2nd Battalion. 24th Regiment. * London Gazetted on the 17th December, 1867.

Born in 1839 in Dublin Ireland.

Died on 22nd March 1900 in Philadelphia, United States of America.

Memorial not known. On the 7th May, 1867, Private Murphy, along with Assistant Surgeon C M Douglas and Privates Bell, J Cooper and W Griffiths, all of the 24th Regiment, manned a boat, making their way through a dangerous surf, in order to rescue their comrades who had been sent to the island of Little Andaman, in the Bay of Bengal, in order to determine the fate of the Commander and seven members of the crew of HMS Assam Valley, who it was feared had been murdered by the cannibalistic inhabitants of the island.

* South Wales Borderers.

Additional information:. They report states, 17 officers and men were rescued from what must otherwise have been, a fearful risk, if not one of certain death.

Alf's notes on his life

On the 7th May, 1867, Private Murphy, along with Assistant Surgeon C M Douglas and Privates Bell, J Cooper and W Griffiths, all of the 24th Regiment, manned a boat, making their way through a dangerous surf, in order to rescue their comrades who had been sent to the island of Little Andaman, in the Bay of Bengal, in order to determine the fate of the Commander and seven members of the crew of HMS Assam Valley, who it was feared had been murdered by the cannibalistic inhabitants of the island.

Additional information

They report states, 17 officers and men were rescued from what must otherwise have been, a fearful risk, if not one of certain death.

* South Wales Borderers.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.

Research this recipient further

Would you like to honour Thomas Murphy by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.