Pte 108666 Joseph Murphy

• Age: 20
• From: Wigan, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 5th May 1919
• Commemorated at: Archangel Allied Cemetery
  Panel Ref: Sp Mem B100

Joseph Murphy was born in Wigan in the December quarter of 1898 the son of Andrew Murphy and his wife Alice (nee Williams). They married in Wigan in the September quarter of 1891.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 66, Prescott Street, Wigan. His father, Andrew, is aged 36, born in Wigan in 1865 is a cotton card room overlooker, his mother, Alice, is aged 35 was born in Mold and has no occupation listed. They have six children living with them at the time of the Census; James aged 9, born 1892 in Newtown, Lancashire, Andrew aged 7, born 1894, Michael aged 5, born 1896, Mary aged 3, born 1898, Joseph aged 2, born 1899 and Thomas born 1901 who were all born in Wigan. They also have Andrew’s two sisters, Maria aged 38, born 1863, Catherine aged 29, born 1872 and brother Frank aged 22, born 1879 living with them.  
The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 66, Prescott Street, Wigan. His father, Andrew, is aged 46 is employed as an overlooker and his mother Alice is aged 46 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for nineteen years and have had eight children of which four had died. They have their four surviving children living with them at the time of the Census; Mary Alice aged 13, is employed as a card room doffer, Joseph aged 12, Thomas and Marie aged 8 are at school part time. They also have a nephew John Murphy aged 20, born 1891 living with them and he is employed as a carter.

He enlisted in Bury and was serving with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 108666. 

He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal, indicating that he did not serve overseas until 1916 at the earliest.

Graham Maddocks (“Liverpool Pals2, Page 213) describes how, following the actions in February 1919 near Archangel, most of March was spent in billets at Seletscoe and only occasional skirmishes took place – including two involving “D” Company, of the 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 1^st and 5^th May 1919. On both days the enemy attacked the Company’s positions at Bereznik on the River Dvina. Both attacks were fought off and 42 prisoners were taken, but on 05^th May Private Joseph Murphy was killed and four other ranks were wounded.

Private Joseph Murphy was the last of the Liverpool Pals to be killed in action.

He now rests at Ust-Vaga Burial Ground, Russia and is commemorated on the Archangel Memorial to the Missing.

During both world wars, Archangel was one of the ports through which the Allies assisted Russia with supplies and munitions. The cemetery was begun immediately after the occupation of the town in August 1918 by the Allied force sent to support the Soviet Russian Government against potential threat from German occupied Finland and other local sources. It was used by No.85 General Hospital, No.53 Stationary Hospital, No.82 Casualty Clearing Station, HM Hospital Ship 'Kalyan' and other Allied hospitals. 

ARCHANGEL ALLIED CEMETERY contains 224 burials and commemorations of the First World War, including special memorials to 140 officers and men with known burials in cemeteries elsewhere in northern Russia. Two of the burials are unidentified. The cemetery also contains 7 Second World War burials. The ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL, which consists of panels fixed into the east wall of the cemetery, commemorates 219 British officers and men who died during the north Russian campaign and whose graves are not known.

Soldiers effects were sent to his father Andrew, whilst his mother was awarded a Pension. 

We currently have no further information on Joseph Murphy, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.