"KILLED IN ACTION"

Private Francis Lealand Murphy of North Walsingham, whose death, we feel sure, will come almost as a personal lose to many Reformer readers.

The deceased soldier was the son of the late Squire John Murphy, a former prominent and greatly esteemed citizen of Norfolk.

Frank passed his 32nd birthday in June last.

He was a two-year man at Varsity and had lived a good deal in the States.

His letters to The Reformer have made him deservedly popular in Norfolk.

Four brothers survive: John, William and Leslie, all in Winnipeg, and Edwin on the homestead. There are two sisters, Mrs. Tighe of Northern Ontario, and Miss Annie at home.
 
 

Tributes to the Late Francis L. Murphy

The following four letters have been received by Miss Annie E. Murphy of Siliver Hill, since the death in action of her brother, Pte. Francis L. Murphy, and she has kindly permitted us to publish them.
 

9 Sep 1917

Dear Miss Murphy: -- I dare say the War Office has notified you of the death of your brother, Private F. L. Murphy, 797104, who was killed in action on 21 Aug 1917. 

No doubt you will feel your sad loss very much as it is hard to part with our friends and loved ones; but it is a consolation to know that he died in a righteous cause.

He died in the great cause of human freedom and for those he loved; and "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

It is a great privilege to meet our brave boys over here. Canada may well be proud of her gallant sons, and they have won undying fame in France and Flanders.

May the Lord comfort you in your bereavement and may you find Him an ever present help in time of trouble. With deepest sympathy.

Yours sincerely,
Alex. Ketterson,
Chaplin 29th Canadians.

4 Sep 1917.

Dear Miss Murphy: -- No doubt by this time you have been officially notified of the death of your brother. 

I know what a terrible shock it must have been but it may be some consolation for you to know that the end came instantly. He suffered no pain. 

Although I am quite aware that nothing will ever make up your great loss you will always have the pleasant memory that he paid the supreme sacrifice in his country's cause.

Yours sincerely,
Roger S. Moore, Lieut.
 
17 Sep 1917.

Dear Miss Murphy: -- I have just heard with the most poignant grief of the death of your splendid brother Francis. 

I had long looked upon him as one of my warm personal friends and I just finished reading his recent articles in The Reformer. 

He had the divine inflatus and the true Celtic and poetic nature, and the world is poorer because of his death. But he gave his life that others might live and he knew what was at stake.

Just the other night the Bosche bombed a maternity hospital situatied three doors from my bittet. The 19 mothers were all killed, also two nurses in attendance and two babies. Your splendid and heroic brother gave his life in order to end such things.

 In proud and loving memory Norfolk will not forget his sacrifice. He has but gone before a little while.

E'en as he trod that day to God,
So walked he from his birth
In simpleness and gentleness
And honour and clean mirth.

I send profound and heartfelt sympathy and I grieve with you in your great loss.

Yours very truly,
Arthur C. Pratt.
 
France, 25 Oct 1917.

Dear Miss Murphy: -- I was very pleased to hear from you and I will try and do all that is in my power for you. I will get all the information about your brother that I can and I will be very pleased to do it.

As to getting the watch, ring, glasses and the things that the little French girl gave him, they are all personal belongings and they are the thing that you would appreciate, but they are things that I am afraid that I cannot get for you.

Your brother was in my section and I was the nearest man to him at the time of his death, but we were making an advance at the time and no one is allowed to stop for another fellow until we have reached our objective.

I will do my best to get these things for you. I can give you the name of is chaplain, Captain H. E. Letang, Roman Catholic chaplain of the Sixth Brigade, Canadians, and also the name and address of his company commander, Major Sharp, O.C., B Company, 29th Canadians, France.

About looking after letters and parcels that come for a soldier who has been killed, the letters are returned to sender, but parcels, if the soldier has not made any arrangement about them in case of his being killed, are sent back to the base and delivered among the hospitals. If he has made arrangements for his parcels to be handed over to some of his friends in the battalion they do so, but there has to be a written statement in the orderly room about it.

I think the last letter he wrote was in August, just before we made the advance. I received your letter on 
9 Oct 1917 and on the 10th one from home containing a clipping from The Reformer with your brother's picture.

I miss him very much and I am more than sorry that he was killed. Francis was the only 133rd fellow in my company, and you have my sincerest sympathy in your loss. If there is anything further that I can do for you do not hesitate to ask.

Very truly yours,
William Green.