William Lombard Murphy, a respected Irish physician, committed his skills to the first World War. He would later have an intriguing life directing a national newspaper and extending his help to Dublin’s disadvantaged inhabitants.
In his late 30s, Murphy willingly joined the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) in 1914. Initially, his services were required at the First Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge, a hospital expressly created to cater for war casualties.
Afterwards, he was transferred to Salonika, holding the rank of a captain. There, he worked amidst the multinational Allied force that included the British army, combating the Bulgarians and their Balkan allies. Owing to his proficiency in both French and German languages, Murphy diligently served as a communication link between the British, French and Serb medical crews.
The unbearable weather conditions could not deter Murphy from rendering his service. As recorded by Capt Noel Drury of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in his diary, November 1915 presented snow drifts that could reach shoulder height. Holding their rifles was a monumental task for the men as the cold metal froze their hands. Overcoats turned into ice and broke apart like timber when any attempt was made to straighten them for laying down.
Intense summer heat coupled with fatal diseases made conditions no less demanding. A private from an English regiment witnessed the extreme conditions, noting that “marching is scorching and exhausting and thirst becomes insatiable with our water bottles becoming invaluable possessions.”
For his heroism and remarkable service, the French republic president decorated Murphy with the Croix de Guerre and the Légion D’honneur in 1917. He also earned similar accolades from Greece and Serbia.
Following his military service, Murphy left the army in 1919 and returned to Dublin to continue his medical profession. His promising path in medicine started early on when he became head of the throat and nose department at St Vincent’s Hospital in 1908.
The death of William Martin Murphy in June 1919 drastically altered the trajectory of his son’s life. Murphy Senior was a distinguished entrepreneur principally linked with the 1913 Dublin Lockout where workers challenged their employers demanding the right to form unions. As his father’s eldest child, he took over the patriarchal responsibilities including managing his father’s business ventures. In addition to being named the head of Independent Newspapers, he was also given directorial positions in various companies such as the Dublin United Transport Company and the Great Southern Railway Company.
In that era, a large volume of newspapers were distributed on the streets by impoverished newsboys, traversing the capital, often barefoot and inadequately dressed for the weather. Alongside others, he established the Dublin Boys Club in 1908, based in what is now known as Pearse Street. The mission was to provide shelter, clothing and food to these young lads when they were not peddling newspapers.
After the war, this institution evolved into the Belvedere Newsboys’ Club, creating a warm, supervised haven where the boys could unwind with their friends during the evenings. By the 1960s, the club introduced training in boxing, table tennis and snooker. A summer camp in Laytown was also organised by the club. Today, it continues to thrive as the Belvedere Youth Club, running multiple programmes for the northeast inner city’s young population.
William Lombard Murphy, apart from endorsing charitable organisations and causes, was also an active participant in Dublin’s business community. During the 1920s, he held the position of vice-president with the Irish Tourist Association, which preceded Fáilte Ireland, and also founded the Publicity Club of Ireland, a professional organisation for advertisers, publishers and agencies. In 1924, he oversaw the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as its president.
In the following decade, he assumed the mantle of representing employers in the Free State at International Labour Conferences held in Geneva. Even as he plunged into the world of commerce, he maintained his connection to the medical sphere through his presence on the boards of the Coombe and Richmond hospitals.
In amongst his commercial endeavours, he still managed to pursue his interests in leisure activities, showing particular fondness for golf, tennis and boxing. He was an integral part of the administrative team of Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society, serving as its vice-president, and was a dedicated enthusiast of the Feis Ceoil. The annual feis credits his contribution by continuing to present the Lombard Murphy Cup for Church Music, which was recently awarded to the Dublin Youth Choir.
In January 1943, he passed away in his Dartry residence at 66 years old. His obsequies, observed at the Church of the Three Patrons in Rathgar, were attended by dignitaries including Oireachtas members, officials from governmental departments, and representatives from the diplomatic corps. The Jesuit order’s provincial offered prayers by his grave.
Having never tied the knot, he was interred in the Murphy family burial ground in Glasnevin.