On April 25, 1944, a Canadian Halifax bomber crashed into the bank of the River Waal near Zuilichem, The Netherlands.
Though two members of the crew managed to bail out of the plane, the remaining five members of the crew, including Georgetown’s William Murphy, were killed.
Now, a Dutch group honouring Canadian soldiers is hoping to find a photograph of Murphy to honour him at the 80th anniversary of the country’s liberation on Dodenherdenking (Dutch Remembrance Day, May 4).
“We wish to give these men a ‘face’ by placing a photograph on their graves during the commemoration ceremonies,” said Eileen Hendrie in an email to HaltonHillsToday. “We have been able to obtain good photographs of (fellow crewmen) Arthur Hansford, Alfred Redmonds, David Watterson and Edward Webb, but not for William Murphy.”
Hendrie said they have been able to gather information about Murphy and are hoping that might help Halton Hills residents find a good quality photo so that they can honour his memory.
Murphy, 23 at the time of his death, was the son of James and Margaret Murphy of Georgetown. A story in the Toronto Star said Murphy was the couple’s only son.
The inscription on Murphy’s grave reads ‘Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him O Lord, Mom, Dad, Alice, Jess.’
“It could be that Alice and Jess are siblings,” Hendrie said. “If they are females, it is possible that Murphy is their maiden name.”
The Star story said Murphy moved to Georgetown from England at the age of three. It also said he attended school in town. Another Star story said “he played midget hockey with the OHA and junior hockey at Georgetown and Milton.”
He enlisted in December 1941 and graduated the following year at the top of his class in the bombing and gunnery school. Murphy was a flying officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force and his service number was J/22084.
Anyone with additional information, or a photograph of Murphy, can contact Hendrie at [email protected].
