Thomas Murphy (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Murphy
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| Born | 1839 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 23 March 1900 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Buried |
Holy Cross Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Andaman Islands Expedition |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Thomas Murphy (born 1839, died 1900) was a brave soldier from Ireland. He received the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery in the British and Commonwealth forces. It's given for amazing courage when facing danger.
A Heroic Rescue
Thomas Murphy earned his award for saving lives at sea. This happened during a storm near the Andaman Islands. He was a soldier, a private, in the British Army. He was about 28 years old at the time.
The Dangerous Mission
On May 7, 1867, Private Murphy was on Little Andaman Island. This island is in eastern India. A ship called the Assam Valley had sent a crew to the island. They were looking for their commander and seven crew members. People worried they had been attacked by the islanders.
Private Murphy and four other soldiers bravely volunteered. They got into a boat to rescue their friends. The waves were very dangerous. They had to go through rough surf to reach the shore.
Facing the Waves
The soldiers tried to reach the shore. Their boat filled with water. But they did not give up. They tried again, and this time they succeeded. They helped five of their comrades get to safety.
They made a third trip. This trip brought the rest of the stranded group to the boats. The officer in charge said that Dr. Douglas, who led the boat, was incredibly calm. He worked the boat like an expert sailor.
The four privates, including Thomas Murphy, were also very brave. They rowed through the roughest waves. If any of them had hesitated, it could have been very dangerous. Thanks to their courage, 17 officers and men were saved. They were rescued from a very risky situation.
Thomas Murphy later passed away in Philadelphia, USA.
