Three: Driver J. Murphy, 4th Battery, Royal Field Artillery

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (79620 Dr., 10th Fds. By. R.A.) small erasure to surname; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (79620 Dvr., 4th Bty., R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (79620 Dvr., R.F.A.) edge bruising, contact marks, good fine (3) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Anglo-Boer War.

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Joseph Murphy was born in St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. A Labourer by occupation and a member of the 5th Battalion King’s Royal Rifles (Militia), he attested for the Royal Artillery at Huntingdon on 9 June 1890, aged 19 years, 3 months. He served in India with the 10th Field Battery R.A., March 1891-March 1898. Transferred to the Army Reserve in March 1898, he was recalled in October 1899. He served in South Africa with the 4th Battery R.F.A., November 1899-June 1902. He was mentioned as having ‘Assisted Lieut. Hobbs to work their gun under heavy and close fire, was one of only five left unwounded at Klemfontein on 24 October 1901 (London Gazette 17 January 1902) - Lieutenant R. F. A. Hobbs, R.E. was awarded the D.S.O. for this action. Murphy was discharged in August 1902. With copied service papers, roll extracts and other research.