W.R.E. Murphy
Encyclopedia
William Richard English Murphy known as W.R.E. Murphy (1890–1975) was an Irish soldier and policeman. He served as an officer with the British Army
in the First World War and later in the Irish Army
in the Irish Civil War
. In the Civil War he was second in overall command of the National Army from January to May 1923. He was first Irish Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police
and the last Commissioner of the force before its merger with the Garda Síochána
in 1925. Thereafter he was the Deputy Commissioner of the Gardaí until his retirement in 1955.
in 1890. He joined the British Army in Belfast
in 1915 as an officer cadet in the South Staffordshire Regiment
. He served in the Battle of Loos
in 1915 and was wounded, but returned to action for the start of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. He became OC of the regiment by the end of the war, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1918, his regiment were posted to the Italian Front, at the Piave River
where they were when the Armistice was declared on 4 November 1918.
After he returned to Ireland he resumed his career as a teacher. At some point he joined the Irish Republican Army
- a guerrilla organisation fighting to end British rule in Ireland.
was signed between British and Irish leaders, resulting in the setting up of the Irish Free State. Conflict over the Treaty among Irish nationalists ultimately led to the outbeak of Civil War in June 1922.
In 1922 Murphy enlisted as a general in the new National Army of the Irish Free State
. After the start of the Civil War, he was put in command of troops charged with taking posts held by the anti-Treaty IRA in Limerick
.
At the Battle of Killmallock in July–August 1922, he was second in command to Eoin O'Duffy
. His troops successsfully dislodged the anti-Treaty IRA from positions around Killmallock in Limerick but Murphy was criticised for his tendency to 'dig in' and resort to trench warfare
rather than rapid offensive action.
Afterwards, he was put in overall command of Free State forces in County Kerry
until January 1923. He lobbied Richard Mulcahy
, commander in chief, for 250 extra troops, to bring his command up to 1,500 and help to put down the guerrilla resistance there. In the early stages of the guerrilla war he organised large scale 'sweeps' to break up republican concentrations in west Cork
and east Kerry. These met with little success, however. Murphy exercised overall command in the county but day to day operations were largely run by Brigadier Paddy Daly
, of the Dublin Guard
.
In October, in response to continuing guerrilla attacks on his troops, Murphy ordered a curfew to be put into place in Tralee from 10:30 until 5:39 every night.
In December, Murphy wrote to Mulcahy that the, "Irregular [Anti-Treaty] organisation here is well nigh broken up", and suggested the end of the war in the county was in sight. His optimistic prediction proved premature, however.
On December 20, Murphy sentenced four captured republican fighters to death under the Public Safety Act
for possession of arms and ammunition. However the sentences were to be called off if local guerrilla activity ceased. Humphrey Murphy, the local IRA Brigade commander, threatened to shoot eight named government supporters in reprisal if the men were executed. Eventually their sentence was commuted to penal servitude.
In January 1923, Murphy was promoted from his command in Kerry to "responsibility for operations and organisation at the national level" in the Army. Paddy Daly took over as commanding officer in Kerry. Murphy later voiced the opinion that Daly had been a bad choice, given his implication in the Ballyseedy Massacre and other events of March 1923, in which up to 30 anti-Treaty prisoners were killed in the county.
. He later became Deputy Commissioner of the Garda Síochána
, when DMP was merged with the new national police force in 1925. He held this post until his retirement n 1955
He also held the post for a time of president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association
.
He died in 1975.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in the First World War and later in the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
in the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
. In the Civil War he was second in overall command of the National Army from January to May 1923. He was first Irish Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police
Dublin Metropolitan Police
The Dublin Metropolitan Police was the police force of Dublin, Ireland, from 1836 to 1925, when it amalgamated into the new Garda Síochána.-19th century:...
and the last Commissioner of the force before its merger with the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
in 1925. Thereafter he was the Deputy Commissioner of the Gardaí until his retirement in 1955.
British Army
Murphy was born in WexfordWexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
in 1890. He joined the British Army in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1915 as an officer cadet in the South Staffordshire Regiment
South Staffordshire Regiment
The South Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 80th Regiment of Foot. In 1959 the regiment was amlagamated with the North Staffordshire Regiment to form the Staffordshire Regiment...
. He served in the Battle of Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
in 1915 and was wounded, but returned to action for the start of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. He became OC of the regiment by the end of the war, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1918, his regiment were posted to the Italian Front, at the Piave River
Battle of the Piave River
The Battle of the Piave River , known in Italy as Battaglia del Solstizio , Battaglia di Mezzo Giugno , or Seconda Battaglia del Piave , was a decisive victory for the Italian Army during World War...
where they were when the Armistice was declared on 4 November 1918.
After he returned to Ireland he resumed his career as a teacher. At some point he joined the Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
- a guerrilla organisation fighting to end British rule in Ireland.
Civil War
In December 1921, the Anglo-Irish TreatyAnglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
was signed between British and Irish leaders, resulting in the setting up of the Irish Free State. Conflict over the Treaty among Irish nationalists ultimately led to the outbeak of Civil War in June 1922.
In 1922 Murphy enlisted as a general in the new National Army of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. After the start of the Civil War, he was put in command of troops charged with taking posts held by the anti-Treaty IRA in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
.
At the Battle of Killmallock in July–August 1922, he was second in command to Eoin O'Duffy
Eoin O'Duffy
Eoin O'Duffy was in succession a Teachta Dála , the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army , the second Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, leader of the Army Comrades Association and then the first leader of Fine Gael , before leading the Irish Brigade to fight for Francisco Franco during...
. His troops successsfully dislodged the anti-Treaty IRA from positions around Killmallock in Limerick but Murphy was criticised for his tendency to 'dig in' and resort to trench warfare
Trench warfare
Trench warfare is a form of occupied fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery...
rather than rapid offensive action.
Afterwards, he was put in overall command of Free State forces in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
until January 1923. He lobbied Richard Mulcahy
Richard Mulcahy
Richard James Mulcahy was an Irish politician, army general and commander in chief, leader of Fine Gael and Cabinet Minister...
, commander in chief, for 250 extra troops, to bring his command up to 1,500 and help to put down the guerrilla resistance there. In the early stages of the guerrilla war he organised large scale 'sweeps' to break up republican concentrations in west Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
and east Kerry. These met with little success, however. Murphy exercised overall command in the county but day to day operations were largely run by Brigadier Paddy Daly
Paddy Daly
Paddy Daly sometimes referred to as Paddy O'Daly, served in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence and subsequently held the rank of Major-General in the Irish National Army in the period 1922 to 1924.-Easter Rising:...
, of the Dublin Guard
Dublin Guard
The Dublin Guard was a unit of the Irish Republican Army, in the Irish War of Independence and then of the Irish National Army during the Irish Civil War 1922-23.-Foundation:...
.
In October, in response to continuing guerrilla attacks on his troops, Murphy ordered a curfew to be put into place in Tralee from 10:30 until 5:39 every night.
In December, Murphy wrote to Mulcahy that the, "Irregular [Anti-Treaty] organisation here is well nigh broken up", and suggested the end of the war in the county was in sight. His optimistic prediction proved premature, however.
On December 20, Murphy sentenced four captured republican fighters to death under the Public Safety Act
Executions during the Irish Civil War
The executions during the Irish Civil War took place during the guerrilla phase of the Irish Civil War . This phase of the war was bitter, and both sides, the government forces of the Irish Free State and the anti-Treaty Irish Republican Army insurgents, used executions and terror in what...
for possession of arms and ammunition. However the sentences were to be called off if local guerrilla activity ceased. Humphrey Murphy, the local IRA Brigade commander, threatened to shoot eight named government supporters in reprisal if the men were executed. Eventually their sentence was commuted to penal servitude.
In January 1923, Murphy was promoted from his command in Kerry to "responsibility for operations and organisation at the national level" in the Army. Paddy Daly took over as commanding officer in Kerry. Murphy later voiced the opinion that Daly had been a bad choice, given his implication in the Ballyseedy Massacre and other events of March 1923, in which up to 30 anti-Treaty prisoners were killed in the county.
Police career
Murphy left the National Army after the end of the Civil War in May 1923 and became first Irish Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan PoliceDublin Metropolitan Police
The Dublin Metropolitan Police was the police force of Dublin, Ireland, from 1836 to 1925, when it amalgamated into the new Garda Síochána.-19th century:...
. He later became Deputy Commissioner of the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
, when DMP was merged with the new national police force in 1925. He held this post until his retirement n 1955
He also held the post for a time of president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
The Irish Amateur Boxing Association is the governing body of amateur boxing in Ireland. It was founded in 1911 following a meeting in Dublin.-Structure:...
.
He died in 1975.