Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Lieutenant-Colonel James Murphy, Royal Marines, mentioned in despatches for his ‘conspicuous and gallant conduct’ in an action against Chinese pirates, 1869

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Pekin 1860 (J. Murphy, R.M., H.M.S. Imperieuse) renamed - engraved in a crude style; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (Qr. Mr. J. Murphy, R.M.L.I.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. J. Murphy, R.M.L.I.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed, first with silver brooch bar, contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4)
£300-350

James Murphy joined the Royal Marines as a Drummer in July 1858, transferred to the ranks in 1864 and reached the rank of Colour-Sergeant in 1876. He became Barrack Sergeant in 1879 and was promoted to Quartermaster in 1882. He was appointed 1st Quartermaster at the Portsmouth Division in 1888 and was promoted to Honorary Captain in 1892 and Honorary Major in 1896, retiring in November 1899.

Murphy served in the latter part of the China War 1860 (medal and clasp) and also in the operations against the Taiping Rebels, 1861-63, seeing action at the capture of the walled cities of Kah-ding, Singpoe and Chaolin, the entrenched camps at Wong-ka-dza and Lee-ka-kong, the stockades at Nahzian, the fortified towns of Kiachiao, Siotang and Tser-poo (slightly wounded), together with other minor affairs. Also in action with pirates in China, 1868-70, including the capture of five large junks at Gowtow, Gulf of Tonquin, 12 June 1869 - having swum off and reconnoitred at night, these junks were boarded: a landing party after a brisk fight with the pirates on shore, having boarded one junk turned her guns on the others. For his actions he was ‘Recommended for some special mark of approval in Despatches from H.M. Gunboat Bouncer to Admiral Sir H. Keppel, 15 July 1869, on account of conspicuous and gallant conduct.’

He served in the R.M. Battalion sent to South Africa for special service in the Zulu War, June-August 1879 and was awarded the medal for long service and good conduct. He then served as Quartermaster in the R.M. Battalion in the defence of Suakin and the operations in the Eastern Sudan, 1884 (Medal and Khedive’s Star).

Having retired from active service he was employed as Secretary to the Inspector-General, Royal Hoospital, Haslar, May 1903-May 1911. During the Great War he was appointed Recruiting Staff Officer at Brighton in April 1915 and was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1916, relinquishing his rank in October 1919. His name was brought to the notice of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for valuable services rendered during the Great War. Latterly living at 91 Festing Grove, Southsea, Lieutenant-Colonel James Murphy died on 26 November 1925. With copied service papers and other research.