Murphy’s Clock

Throughout most of the 20th century, the ante room of the Officers’ Mess of the 2nd Goorkhas has benefited from the generosity of Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel William Murphy DSO, courtesy of a fine mantel clock that was presented to the Regiment after he left in February 1898. The wooden case is adorned with an unhallmarked silver plaque with the following charming inscription:

“Presented by Bde Surgeon Lieut Colonel W R Murphy to his brother officers of the 2nd PWO Goorkhas in memory of many happy hours spent with them”

But who was William Murphy? He was born on 23 October 1849 in Ireland. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, Co. Kildare, Trinity College, Dublin, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, where he won many prizes during his student course at Meath Hospital.
His first Commission was in the British Army Medical Department in April 1871, where he took 1st Prize and the Herbert Prize at Netley Hospital, Southampton. In 1872, he transferred to the Indian Medical Service, and in October 1875, Murphy’s first appointment was as Officiating Medical Officer to the 20th Bengal Light Infantry. In May 1878, he was transferred to the 13th Bengal Native Infantry before being appointed to the 25th Punjab Regiment Native Infantry.

His first direct contact with the Regiment would have been in April 1878 when he joined the Indian Expeditionary Force ( which included the 2nd Goorkhas ) sent to Malta in response to a possible Russian threat in the eastern Mediterranean. On his return to India in October 1878, he took part in the 2nd Afghan War as Medical Officer of the 19th Bengal Lancers and was present at the action at Saifudin, the occupation of Kandahar, the Battle of Ahmed Khel and the subsequent actions at Arzu and Patkao Shana. In 1880, he was mentioned in despatches for the first time. In 1888, William Murphy served with the Hazara Field Force on the Black Mountain Expedition in the North West Frontier, and was again mentioned in despatches.

In July 1888, he transferred from the 19th Bengal Lancers and was permanently ‘to officiate in medical charge’ of the 2nd Battalion 2nd Goorkhas. He accompanied the 2nd Battalion on the Second Looshai Campaign or the Chin Lushai Expedition of 1888 -90, where he also assumed responsibility as the Principal Medical Officer, for which he was again mentioned in despatches and awarded the DSO ‘ in recognition of services during the Chin-Lushai Expedition ‘ ( London Gazette November 1890 ).

In December 1894, he was switched to the Medical Charge of the 1st Battalion and served with it in the Chitral Relief Force in 1895, but two years later, he left on appointment as Principal Medical Officer of the 3rd Brigade, which included the 1st Battalion as well as the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. He was on the Samana Ridge in 1897 and in Tirah in 1897 – 98, and with the Kurram Kohat Force and present at the action in the Ublan Pass. He was also Principal Medical Officer with the Kurram Movable Column, which included a section British Field Hospital, a Native Field Hospital and a Native General Hospital located at Kohat with 200 beds. He was mentioned in despatches on two further occasions in February and April 1898.

The 1st Battalion’s Digest of Service records that on 2 February 1898, his tenure expired and he was appointed Medical Officer of the 6th Bengal Native Infantry, an appointment he held until his retirement in July 1899, after which he moved to London, where he died on 7 August 1927, aged 78.

The 7-day mantel clock which William Murphy presented to the Regiment was made by Hamilton & Co of Calcutta, who were known as the ‘ Garrard of India ‘because their work appealed to members of the Government, military and Indian aristocracy.  Cones & Co’s Directory and Almanack for Calcutta 1879 described the firm as ‘ Jewellers and silversmiths in ordinary to His Excellency the Viceroy, clock and watch-makers, and dealers in precious stones’.  Their main shop was located at 8, Court House Street, Calcutta, with branches in Bombay, Delhi and Simla.

NB . The clock continues to keep excellent time and is in my possession. This is because I had paid for its restoration in 1977, and the Trustees of the Sirmoor Club kindly agreed when distributing surplus Regimental property for it to be offered to me rather than be put up for auction.

JRH