Notes
Ronald Joseph Murphy, known as Ronnie, was born in Dublin on 30 January 1908, the second son of Norah and Joseph Murphy. He was educated at Beaumont College, Windsor until 1926, and entered Worcester College, Oxford on 15 October 1926, graduating with a pass degree in 1931. While at Worcester he was a member of the College Boat Club and rowed in the 1st Torpid, 1st Eight and the Henley Four. Ronnie Murphy married Gwladys Lloyd in 1936 and they lived in Surrey.
After leaving the University of Oxford Ronnie Murphy was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the East Kent Regiment in 1931 and served with the 1st battalion in India and Burma, before moving with them to Egypt in 1939. On the outbreak of war he was serving as a Captain and Adjutant with the 2nd Battalion East Kent Regiment (Buffs) and crossed with them to France, where he was wounded on 22 May 1940. His battalion was subsequently sent to North Africa where he later became Brigade Major to 132nd Brigade. He was awarded the Military Cross on 4 September 1942 and was appointed to the command of the 4th battalion Royal Sussex Regiment on 11 October 1942. Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Murphy was killed in action at El Alamein on 28 October 1942, aged 34.
Ronnie Murphy is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery in Egypt, and commemorated on the war memorials at Beaumont College and Worcester College, Oxford.