I wonder if any of you can help solve a mystery I've discovered in my Royal Navy casualty list. MURPHY, Patrick, Stoker 1c, D/KX97072, He is listed as being a from destroyer HMS Fearless, but with a date of death of 26th July 1945 and buried at Ardfield Burial Ground. His ship was sunk after being torpedoed by Italian torpedo bombers in the Mediterranean on 23rd July 1941. So the question is, was Stoker Murphy seriously wounded when his ship was lost and succumbed to his wounds over four years later or is the entry for HMS Fearless in error? As an aside as far as I can see there was no other HMS Fearless during the war years. Any ideas? Regards, Steve
Steve as you know it would be guess work without more detail perhps other forum members have access to further info but my take is either as you suggested or died of accident or illness DC would confirm
Thanks yes. Regrettably his death isn't recorded in ADM104 so I've not been able to discover any information from that source. Regards, Steve
UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 Name: Patrick Murphy Gender: Male Death Date: 26 Jul 1945 Cemetery: Ardfield Burial Ground Burial Country: Repulic of Ireland Regimental Number: D/KX97072 Region or Memorial: Repulic of Ireland Father: Patrick Murphy Mother: Mary Murphy Ireland, Civil Registration Deaths Index, 1864-1958 Name: Patrick Murphy Estimated Birth Year: abt 1916 Date of Registration: 1945 Jul-Aug-Sep Death Age: 29 Registration district: Clonakilty Volume: 5 Page: 37 FHL Film Number: 101743 Have no ideas how to obtain Irish copy death certs, but I would guess with a fair certain ty that he died in July 1945 Forgot to add:
I do note that this site states RN Casualties in WW2 by Name - Mi MURPHY, Patrick J, Stoker 1c, D/KX 90270, Glorious, 8 June 1940, ship loss, MPK Presumably he survived and was found, whether that was the end of his service or he was able to continue for a period until his final demise in what looks like his home town in or around Clonakilty Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, June 1940 Saturday, 8 June 1940 LOSS OF GLORIOUS, ACASTA and ARDENT Glorious, aircraft carrier, ship loss MURPHY, Patrick J, Stoker 1c, D/KX 90270, MPK
ADM 104/134 Also listed for 1940 with the CWGC - Stoker 1St Class Patrick Joseph Murphy | War Casualty Details | CWGC Both different sailors similar official numbers - Stoker 1St Class Patrick Murphy | War Casualty Details | CWGC Regards Hugh
Hi TD, Yes I'd noticed the similar names, but different serial number. Though from the CWGC entries, it would seem that they are two different men. STOKER 1ST CLASS Patrick Joseph Murphy Service Number: D/KX 90270 Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Navy H.M.S. Glorious Date of Death Died 08 June 1940 Age 24 years old Buried or commemorated at PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Panel 41, Column 2. United Kingdom Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom Additional InfoSon of William and Deboriah Murphy. STOKER 1ST CLASS Patrick Murphy Service Number: D/KX97072 Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Navy H.M.S. Fearless Date of Death Died 26 July 1945 Buried or commemorated at ARDFIELD BURIAL GROUND Ireland, Republic of Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom Additional InfoSon of Patrick and Mary Murphy, husband of Anne Murphy, of Sally Noggin, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Personal InscriptionIN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF MY DEAR HUSBAND PATRICK. R.I.P. Regards, Steve
