Portrait of 1761 Private (Pte) John Joseph Herlihy Murphy, 2nd Pioneer Battalion from Windsor, ...

Portrait of 1761 Private (Pte) John Joseph Herlihy Murphy, 2nd Pioneer Battalion from Windsor, Victoria. A 22 year old clerk prior to enlisting on 2 August 1915, he embarked for overseas service with the 2nd Reinforcements from Melbourne aboard HMAT Aeneas (A60) on 8 April 1916. He sailed to England, via Egypt and then proceeded to France in July 1916. After being wounded at Pozieres on 5 August 1916, he was evacuated to England for medical treatment and recuperation. Following recovery, he was attached for duty with the Permanent Cadre of Pioneer Training Battalion in England and given the rank of Acting Sergeant. He remained in England until December 1917 when he returned to France, rejoined the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and reverted to the rank of Private. Pte Murphy was wounded in action on the Somme and died from his wounds the next day, 12 June 1918, and was buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery, France.