James Murphy was one of many Chorley Pals to bear the scars of war for the rest of their lives. A Medical Board convened on the 23rd November 1919 stated that he “Walks with a limp. Pain when walks far. Recommend Orthopaedic hospital treatment”.
He was twice wounded during separate actions during the war. Firstly at Serre on the 1st July 1916, being taken to the 92nd Field Ambulance facility and then for treatment at No. 2 General Hospital at Havre (Le Havre) a day later, before being shipped back to England; he returned to the Chorley Pals on the 1st December 1916 (they were behind the lines at Sailly-au-Bois). He was wounded again on the night of the 14th May 1917, attacking German positions defending the village of Oppy near Arras. He sustained wounds to his right foot, being initially treated at 53 Field Ambulance; he was then moved to the 24th CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) at Aubigny, before being admitted to No. 8 Royal Canadian Hospital at Le Touquet on the Channel coast.
He was shipped back to England, arriving at a hospital in Chelmsford on the 22nd May 1917, staying there until the 12th June. He then spent nearly three months convalescing at a hospital at Writtle in Essex, being posted to the 3rd (Depot) Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment on the 25th September 1917. An Invalidity Board met at Ripon on the 4th December 1917 to assess his fitness. They ruled that he was unfit for active service and he was duly discharged from the Army at Saltburn Camp on Christmas Day 1917.
James Murphy was born in Chorley on the 7th September 1897 and enlisted at Chorley on the 24th September 1914; he gave his address as 24 Buchannan Street in the town, working at a Colliery and worshipping at St. Mary’s Church.
During his service with the Pals he was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 25th March 1915, to Corporal on the 16th June 1915 and Acting Sergeant on the 18th January 1917, being appointed to Sergeant on the 1st April 1917.
