NAM.1972-05-10-1

Lieutenant Thomas Murphy in the undress uniform of the Turkish Contingent, Crimea 1854 (c). Oil on canvas signed with a monogram symbol and dated '1857', by unknown artist, 1857. Thomas Murphy (1833-1922) was a gunner in the Royal Artillery and served throughout the Crimean War (1854-1856) being present at the Battle of Inkerman and the six bombardments of the Siege of Sevastopol. In fact, Hart’s Army List noted that he was ‘not absent from regular trench duty for a single day from the first breaking ground to the end of the siege’ and that he was ‘recommended for distinguished conduct’, although there is no record of his having received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. From January 1856 until the end of the war, Murphy served as a lieutenant with the Turkish Contingent which formed the garrison at Kerch. This force of 20,000 Turkish troops provided by the Sultan, was paid by Britain and many of its British officers were on leave from the armies of the East India Company. Murphy sat for this portrait wearing the undress uniform of the Turkish Contingent and his Crimea War Medal, showing the reverse of the medal with two clasps, lacking their inscriptions. He went on to serve with the 46th (The South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot and afterwards the 66th (The Berkshire) Regiment of Foot. Murphy retired as an honorary lieutenant-colonel in 1883.

Inkerman, Battle of, 1854 (Crimean War 1854-1856), Sevastopol, Siege of, 1854-55 (Crimean War 1854-1856), Kerch, Capture of, 1855 (Crimean War 1854-1856)