WW1 Military Medal - Daring Raid by a Gateshead Lance - Corporal - 10th Northumberland Fusiliers - Murphy

Northern Honours - Daring Raid by a Gateshead Lance-Corporal

Lance-Corpl. W. Murphy ( N.F. ) of Nelson St, Gateshead, has been awarded the Military Medal for the conspicuous service in the field. Near Le Touquet, he and three comrades showed conspicuous skill and daring while taking part in a successful raid under heavy bomb, rifle and artillery fire. They got on to the enemy's parapet and bombed the trench until driven back by force of numbers. They then brought back two mortally and three severely wounded men from the enemy's parapet to our own trenches under a heavy fire.

The medal is in GVF condition (with a slight edge bruise) and is correctly impressed as follows: " 19736 L.Cpl. W. Murphy. 10/Nth'd. Fus:"

An extract from the Absent Voters' list confirms his place of residence as 28 Nelson Street, Gateshead. The WW1 MIC confirms his entitlement to the 1914-15 Trio and his date of entry into France as 25th August 1915. The MM file confirms his rank as Lance Corporal and his battalion as the 10th. Date of London Gazette: 16th November 1916.

The Gateshead War Honours Scrapbook includes two small photos of him from the local newspaper plus the account of his gallantry detailed above (pages 55 and 57 respectively). A further entry on page 111 (dated 12.4.1919), confirms that:

"The Gateshead War Honours Committee have received war medals for presentation and arrangements will be made for their distribution, along with wristlet watches. The names are:

Pte F. Parkin, 4th NF - Military Medal
L/Cpl W. Murphy, 10th NF - Military Medal

An exciting account in the local papers adding colour to this well won award.

Code: 54366