MURPHY, James Henry
| Service Number: | NX66627 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 December 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Numbaa, New South Wales, Australia, 26 February 1916 |
| Home Town: | Nowra, Shoalhaven Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | St Joseph’s, Hunters Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Nowra, New South Wales, Australia, 28 September 2005, aged 89 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Nowra General Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 12 Dec 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX66627 | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1942: | Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore | |
| 15 Dec 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX66627 |
Thai Burma Railway story
NX66627 Private James Henry Murphy, was captured on 15th February 1942 and was based in Singapore for the first 14 months of captivity. The men during that time were involved in local work parties around Singapore, repairing roads and war damage and also working on the docks loading and unloading ships for the Japanese.
On 23rd April 1943 he was sent from Changi with "F" Force, a group of 7000 men (roughly half British and half Australian), to work on the railway in Thailand. Harry was in the 6th trainload (of a total of 13) to be despatched in overcrowded rail wagons taking between 4 & 5 days to reach Ban Pong in Thailand, under shocking conditions.
On arrival at Ban Pong they were informed they were to walk/march from there which was the beginning of what they were to eventually discover (the hard way) was to become an incredible 300 klm walk over 17 days to their destination camp near the border with Burma for construction work on the railway.
After leaving Ban Pong there was a stop-over at Tha Rua and then on to Kanchanaburi where they rested at the end of their 2nd day's march for about 36 hours before moving on.
Over the next 14 days they rested at the following camps.
Lat Ya, Tha Dan, Tha Sao, Kinsaiyok, Lin Thin, Hindat, Prang Kasi, Tha Khanun, Tamuron Part, Konkoita, Shimo Ni Thea.
The final destination of the Australians at the end of the 17th day was Shimo Songkurai (later Kami Songkurai).
I have attached further details about the marches of "F" Force that you may find more explanatory. Also attached is a record compiled for Harry from our research files for you.
As your Dad left Changi on 23rd April 1943 he would have arrived around 17th or 18th May at Shimo Songkurai, either with, or the day after, Major Bruce Hunt whose journey is described in the attached.
After the railway was completed in October 1943, the surviving men of F Force were progressively moved (by November/December 43) back to Kanchanaburi where they were based at the "F" & "H" Force Hospital Camp (very close to where our Centre is now located). Those fit enough were quickly returned to Changi with the majority having moved there by February 44 and the remainder by April 44.
"F" Force was unique in that they remained under the Malayan Command of the Japanese and were loaned to (not transferred to) the Thailand Command as reinforcement labour to help speed up the completion of the railway. This was an added disadvantage during the railway work of 6 to 8 months as they were a long way from their Command, but turned out to be a saviour for the 60% who survived this terrible ordeal as they were returned to Changi from Kanchanaburi as quickly as they were fit enough to travel. It was widely accepted that conditions at Changi were far more conducive to survival than the railway camps in Thailand due to marginally better food and medicine, better treatment and far less work.
Acknowledged from the Thai Burma Railway Centre with deep gratitude to Terry Manttan
Submitted 23 May 2023 by Sally Murphy
Biography contributed by Sally Murphy
James Henry Murphy - 'Harry' was born at Numbaa and spent his childhood living with his family on 'Riverview Farm'until he went to boarding school at St Joseph's Hunters Hill. During his school days he watched the Sydney Harbour Bridge being built from his dormitory window and saw those great arches meet. After completing his education he returned to work on the family farm under the watchful eye of his Uncle Tim. Harry was an excellent sportsman and enjoyed playing both disciplines of rugby, representing Pyree in the local competition. He was also an active participant in the 7th Light Horse in Nowra.
Harry joined the Army in December 1940 and went to Singapore to Singapore with No 2 Company AASC where he was captured in February 1942 in the fall of Singapore. During confinement in the POW camp at Changi, he was assigned to the prisoner's 'F' Force which was taken by railway cattle trucks to Ban Pong, Thailand. From there they were marched 293 kms into the jungle above Nikki where they built the camps of Kami Songkurai and Shimo Songkurai, and worked on building the infamous Burma railway until completion. Once the line was finished, the Japanese moved the surviving prisoners back to Changi by train. Harry arrived back in less than good health and was diagnosed with beri-beri, which reduced his weight from 11 stone to 100lbs after 6 hours of treatment. He was de-mobbed in December 1945 and returned to Nowra where he became a founding member of the Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen's Club when it was formed in February 1948.
Marj and Harry lived in Nowra from their marriage in 1949 until 1953 when they moved to the Riverina. Harry spent 10 years working on properties around Wagga Wagga and Cootamundra before returning to settle permanently in Plunkett Street, Nowra. Harry worked at the APPM paper mill from 1963 until his retirement in March 1976.
One of his great loves in the latter part of his life was golf. After a heart attack, the doctors advised walking exercise and Harry decided this could be best achieved by accompanying family members on their weekly golf outings. Having been bitten by the bug in early retirement, he never missed an opportunity to get out on the course and play. his Albatross Golf Club mates affectionately knew him as the 'Old Burglar'!
Miss Polly, his adored corgi dog, was his constant companion in recent years. She was there everyday through all the up's and downs, never wavering in her loyalty, affection and demands for reciprocity. This kept him going so they could spend another day together.
Harry faced his fair share of health issues with the same courage and determination that he lived by throughout his life, while protecting and nurturing his family from the same hardships that he faced and overcame. He relied on his lifelong Catholic faith. We were all privileged to enjoy his love, share his company and just know him for so many wonderful years.
Brother, Father, Father-in-Law, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Uncle and Friend, Harry will be remembered with great love and affection by his extended family and his many friends.
Contributions for this story made by family members.
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