Jack Murphy was born in Tottenham as one of 6 children. Before the First World war he joined Outfitters George Kenning and Sons, who made the braid and embroidery for Masonic and Naval uniforms. He worked for them for 54 years, retiring at 72 years of age. He undertook costings for in house production work. The firm was ultimately taken over by Toye & Co. in 1957 before becoming Toye Kenning & Spencer as they are known today. He was a skilled marksmen and before the First World War regularly shot for Edmonton Patriotic Rifle Club and his firm, typically scoring 97 or 98 out of 100 and winning a number of prizes.
By the start of the Second World War, he was living with his wife Lily and his three children in rented accommodation in Rayleigh. After a few bombs fell on Rayleigh, his concerned elderly relatives asked them to move to London and they stayed in Chingford to support them. With the situation being rather cramped in the one house they eventually moved back to Eastwood Road in Rayleigh. His daughter said their period in London almost exactly coincided with the Blitz!
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rayleigh Patrol | Patrol member | 22 May 1941 | 31 Dec 1944 |
Clerk at Naval Military outfitters
He served during the First World War with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, posted to Crystal Palace where the Royal Naval Division were trained. These were sailors fighting on the land rather than at sea.
It is thought that he joined Auxiliary Units on his return to Rayleigh in 1941. He may have served briefly in the regular Home Guard, but this is not known for sure.
Some other recollections were recorded by his daughter Daphne Olley;
“Dad would often be out all night on exercises and then go to work in the morning. [The] bedroom was like a mini-arsenal. On a table by the bed were a hand-grenade, knife, magnets and explosives to attach to a tank if necessary, and his gun. These were not primed of course but he scared Mum one day by shouting ‘catch’ and throwing a grenade at her. She caught it but was not amused."
“The night before Muriel [another one of John’s daughters] was married we had a lot of relatives staying with us. Early in the morning one of them had crept into Mum’s room and said that there was a soldier lying on the landing. Poor Dad had come home from an exercise and didn’t know who was where, so he lay on the floor and went to sleep. He was so tired the next day. I suppose it was not surprising that he nearly left the house with the bride on his arm, wearing morning dress and carpet slippers. That is, Dad - not the Bride!”
“He was very tough and a crack shot and he hated the Germans so much. He would have given them a rough time had it been required of him.”
National Archives WO199/3389
Nick Olley
Gerald and Derek Barnes
1939 Register