Charles Edward Murphy

The following profile was researched and compiled by Candice L. Buchanan and Glenn J. R. T. Toothman III, for publication in "The Rain Day Boys: The Greene That Lay Near Grimpettes Woods" (2017). Learn more at RainDayBoys.com.

Birth: 15 May 1897 Colliers, Brooke County, West Virginia[i]

Parents: Dennis Herman Murphy and Lucy Jones[ii]

Residence at time of enlistment: Wind Ridge, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania[iii]

Physical Description: 5 feet and 9 ¼ inches tall, light complexion, grey eyes, brown hair[iv]

Death: Killed in action 29 July 1918 Cierges, Picardie, France[v]

Age at death: 21 years old

Last resting place: 7 August 1921 Jacksonville Cemetery, Wind Ridge, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania[vi]

Military rank: Serial No. 1241388. Corporal. Company K, 110th Infantry, 28th Division.

Witness account of death: Statement given by Pvt. Joseph McCabe. “I was near Charles Murphy when he was killed by a machine gun bullet on July 29th, 1918. We were on a hill between the Ourcq river and the Grimpette woods. He was shot in the head and instantly killed.”[vii]

Additional information:

On November 7, 1918, the Waynesburg Republican published a letter from Sgt. Floyd Patterson to the parents of Charles Murphy. It provides a slightly different account of his death than the official statement and fills in a few more personal details:

General Hospital, No. 17, Markleton, Pa.

October 26, 1918.

Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Murphy, Wind Ridge, Pa.

Dear friends:

I received your letter this morning. Charles was one of my best friends and I feel if I am able to lighten your sorrow any by relating his death to you, I will only be too glad to do so. I did not see him meet his death, but I saw him shortly afterward, and saw him buried. He was hit by a machine gun shortly before dusk on July 29. He was hit in the chest and death came almost instantly. One of the boys in Charles' squad, who has since died, told me of Charles' end and that the only word he said after being hit was “mother.” He was a fine boy and a splendid soldier. The company was very fond of him and he was well liked in the regiment. He was buried on the morning of July 31 along with 41 other Co. K boys. He was laid beside Sergeant Riggle. They were buried according to military laws and in such a manner that they can be easily removed to the United States after the war ends. I hope to be home before long and if I am able I would like to see you and tell you about Charles. I trust this letter finds you all in good health and that God will give you strength to bear this your great sorrow.

Most sincerely, Charles' comrade and your friend.

Sergeant Floyd W. Patterson.[viii]

Charles’s funeral services were held at the Wind Ridge Presbyterian Church and he was laid to rest nearby in the Jacksonville Cemetery.[ix]

In 1934, Lucy Murphy, Charles's mother, was granted $10.00 a month for 20 months, as part of the Pennsylvania Veteran’s Compensation Act, on behalf of her son.[x]

 

[i] West Virginia, Birth Certificates and Registers, 1897 Births: pages 50-51, Charles D. Murphy entry, line no. 313, Date of Birth 15 May 1897 / Date of Record 31 May 1897; digital images, West Virginia Archives and History (WV State Archives), West Virginia Culture and History (www.WVCulture.com : viewed 5 November 2017); original records on file at the County Clerk's Office, Brooke County Courthouse, Wellsburg.

[ii] Greene County, Pennsylvania, Marriage License Dockets (1895), vol. 6: 129, D. H. Murphy - Lucy J. Jones; Office of the Orphans' Court, Greene County Courthouse, Waynesburg.

"WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60884 : accessed 5 November 2017), Mrs. Lucy Murphy, mother of Charles E. Murphy - application no. 211801; citing World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1934–1948 (RG 19, Series 19.91), Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

[iii] "United States, Army Transport Service Passenger Lists 1910-1939," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61174 : accessed 14 October 2017), Charles E. Murphy entry, line 142, page 35 (stamped), Ausonia, box 373; citing Lists of Outgoing Passengers, 1917-1938. Textual records. 255 Boxes. NAI: 6234477. Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985. Record Group Number 92. National Archives, College Park, Maryland. The ledger lists an emergency contact person and address for each passenger. Charles listed his mother, with whom he likely lived at the time of his enlistment. He gave her address as “Wind Ridge, PA.”

[iv] "PA National Guard Veterans' Card File, 1867-1921," digital images, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), Pennsylvania State Archives Records Information Access System (www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp: viewed 12 November 2017), Charles E. Murphy, Private, Co K, 10th Inf., P. N. G.; citing Pennsylvania State Archives, series #19.135.

[v] "Greene County Heroes Fall in France" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 15 August 1918.

"How Corp. Charles E. Murphy Fell In Battle" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 7 November 1918.

"Our County's Honored Dead" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 29 August 1918.

"WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com, Mrs. Lucy Murphy, mother of Charles E. Murphy - application no. 211801.

[vi] "Funerals of Four Company K Heroes" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 11 August 1921.

Jacksonville Cemetery (Wind Ridge, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania), Corp. Charles E. Murphy tombstone; personally read by Candice Buchanan, 2008.

[vii] "WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com, Mrs. Lucy Murphy, mother of Charles E. Murphy - application no. 211801.

[viii] "How Corp. Charles E. Murphy Fell In Battle" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 7 November 1918.

[ix] "Funerals of Four Company K Heroes" article, Waynesburg Republican, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, 11 August 1921.

Jacksonville Cemetery (Wind Ridge, Richhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania), Corp. Charles E. Murphy tombstone; personally read by Candice Buchanan, 2008.

[x] "WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948," digital images, Ancestry.com, Mrs. Lucy Murphy, mother of Charles E. Murphy - application no. 211801.