Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | February 17, 1893 |
Place of Birth | Greyabbey, Newtownards, County Down |
Country | Ireland |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | John Murphy (father), Greyabbey, County Down, Ireland |
Trade / Calling | Hotel Clerk |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 1285751 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | No. 10 Service Company |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Army Service Corps |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Place of Enlistment | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Address at Enlistment | Suite M, Ashford Block, Balmoral Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Date of Enlistment | June 22, 1918 |
Age at Enlistment | 25 |
Theatre of Service | Canada |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | March 20, 1961 |
Age at Death | 68 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | RC-B-10-4 |
Staff Sergeant Major Alfred Henry Murphy served at the militia headquarters in Winnipeg from January 1915 to June 1918, followed by about two years with the Canadian Army Service Corps. He was demobilized in April 1919.
Alfred was the son of John and Lucy Murphy of Greyabbey, County Down, Ireland. John was a shoemaker and his wife worked as a dressmaker. They had seven children: Susie, Jessie, Patrick, Alfred, Maurice, Walter and Barbara. Patrick was born on 19 May 1891 and Alfred on 17 February 1893, both in Greyabbey. Alfred was still living at home at the time of the 1911 census, with his occupation recorded as monitor. The following year he immigrated to Canada along with his brother Patrick and they settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Alfred found work as a clerk and Patrick was an accountant.
The war started in August 1914 and Patrick enlisted with the 43rd Battalion five months later. He was seriously wounded in October 1915 and had his right arm and part of one foot amputated. He was invalided back to Canada in 1917. Alfred joined a militia unit in Winnipeg in January 1915 and served at No. 10 District Headquarters for three and a half years. On 22 June 1918 he enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and he was posted to the Canadian Army Service Corps No. 10 Service Company as a Staff Sergeant Major. On 29 December he was admitted to the Manitoba Military Hospital in Tuxedo Park, Winnipeg with epidemic influenza. He recovered and was released to duty on 8 January 1919. He served another three months and was discharged on demobilization on 10 April.
Alfred stayed in Winnipeg after the war and he and his brother Patrick lived together for several years. Alfred was a clerk at the McLaren Hotel and Patrick was a law student. Patrick married Margaret Eva Ashford in March 1924 at the Central Congregational Church in Winnipeg and they had one son, Michael. In the late 1930s Alfred moved to Kenora, Ontario. He worked as a clerk at the Kenricia Hotel and was known as ‘Murph’ to the guests and local residents. He became a member of the Lake of the Woods Club.
Alfred passed away suddenly on 20 March 1961, at age 68. His funeral was held four days later and he’s buried in the Catholic section of Lake of the Woods Cemetery. He was survived by his three sisters, all of London, England, his brother Maurice in New Zealand and Patrick in Winnipeg. Patrick died on 1 April 1966 and he’s buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Winnipeg.
By Becky Johnson
Alfred’s grave marker was installed in Lake of the Woods Cemetery in 2018 by the Last Post Fund.