Pte. Norman "Spud" Murphy
British Army 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Tantobie, Stanley, Co.Durham.
Norman Murphy came from a large family who originated from Ireland, however, some settled in both Maryport and Scotland. The men of the family were mainly stone miners or as Norman was a pitman. Norman lived in Tantobie near Stanley, Co Durham at the time of enlisting. He lied on his application form to join up stating his year of birth to be 1917. He was born at the historic site of Causey Arch as you cross the arch towards the town of Tanfield cottages were located on the banks to the lied this is where his ashes lay.
Norman enlisted on a 7yr stint on the 25th of March 1936 his military record shows he was a gutsy man and his record shows him standing at 5'5" weighing 125lb. He was shown as fit for active service 23rd of May 1936 at Fenham Barracks. He was training in Shanghai from 16th of October 1937 to 6th of January 1940. He went to Egypt on the 7th of January 1940 and was taken as a prisoner of war on the 16th of May 1941. He was repatriated on the 11th of April 1942 and resumed army service on the 2nd of July 1942.
He was awarded the standard war medals and the African Star on 14th of December 1948. Norman had gun shot wounds to hand arm and leg. He was a miner when he joined up. He never drove a car but the murphy mode of transport was a motor bike and side car. He met my mother Marion Yard at Tantobie dance hall. Norman died in 1992 of having coughed up most of his lung with coal dust, he mined at Marlyhill collery and had worked at Consett steel works.
