Source: 18th Battalion Nominal Roll, April 1915.
Family Search: Private John Murphy was born on 15 September 1872, in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. He had at least 1 son and 3 daughters with Mary Maroney. He immigrated to Canada in 1913 and lived in Fenit, County Kerry, Ireland in 1911 and Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada in 1936. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 43, his occupation is listed as labourer in Windsor, Sandwich, Essex, Ontario, Canada. He died on 28 February 1952, in London, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 79, and was buried in Saint Alphonsus Cemetery, Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada.
Mon, Dec 07, 1936 ·Page 29.
A Veteran’s Praise for Colonel Wigle
EDITOR, The Windsor Star, Sir: No. 54237, John Murphy, 18th Battalion, C. E. Force, I belong to the above mentioned. Colonel Wigle, there are a lot of people who want to know what you did in France, and at home. I refer a few instances of what the colonel did. Here is one. While in London, Ontario, Colonel Wigle brought the battalion out to Springbank Park, London, 10 below zero, to camp out at night. The colonel was with us and slept out with his men. We left for overseas later. We arrived in Sandling Camp, England, trained there three to four months, leaving this camp for France. I just can’t recall the date. We were the first battalion to leave this camp, at 8 o’clock. We marched from Sandling Camp to Folkstone Pier, in torrents of rain. There was one lady who watched us go by from a hotel door. She shouted, “Is that the 18th Battalion?” “Good luck and God bless you” were the only parting words we heard from the camp to the boat. What a glorious sendoff. The 18th Battalion embarked at 8 o’clock at Folkstone. We were to arrive at 9 to 9.30 p.m. at La Havre, France.
I relate the story of Colonel Wigle for the benefit of those people who want to know what our colonel did at the front.
There is another experience on our crossing the channel. We were nearly drowned. One of our own boats ran into us. We were badly wrecked, but managed to keep afloat; four other boats came to our rescue. Their cables got entangled, trying to tow us in and we had to cut them. However, through all, we arrived at La Havre the next morning at 6 a.m. as the 1st Battalion, Second Division; we should have been there first, instead the rest of the Second Division were there before us.
We had three to four days forced march, minus our kits, to get up in our place. We camped somewhere unknown to me. At 5 o’clock we had breakfast, one hour’s rest.
While there, one of our soldiers sighted a garden about 50 yards away. I was one of the first to have my share of green onions. The battalion followed suit. Between the wreck, rain and onions, the tears came down our cheeks. Laughter was ours for a minute. Our colonel had to pay the damage. With a good heart he did, after some arguing with the lady, who owned it, in French.
Now for the trenches. We got to Massines. La Clete was our headquarters, Dicky Bush, the front line, the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, the 4th Brigade of 2nd Division. We took over our duties, kept our lines in order. Every day the colonel visited his men, always did as every colonel would do, and as an old soldier, Colonel Wigle should at least have had more honors than he has today. I saw him doing great deeds of valor and I know, worth more than the D.S.O., but there was no one to recommend him. He is one great colonel, and not a word or even looking for honors.
I am giving just a little of the experience in warfare along with Colonel Wigle personally and let it be known to the good citizens of Windsor, Colonel Wigle is a humanitarian, a great soldier and a gentleman.
JOHN MURPHY. No. 4054, British Army. No. 54237, C. E. Force. 128 Aylmer avenue.
The Windsor Star
Mon, Dec 07, 1936 ·Page 29.
Fri, Feb 29, 1952 ·Page 48.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 