Robert's Story.
Birkenhead News 08 May 1918ARTILLERY MAN MISSING.
Official news has been received by Mrs. Murphy, 5, Fore Street, Birkenhead, that her husband, Gunner Robert Murphy, R.F.A., was posted as missing on March 21st. No further information has yet been received. Gunner Murphy joined the forces in January, 1915, and after seeing two years’ service he was wounded and gassed, and was invalided home. He returned to the front last December, and since then has been in much fighting. Before going into the Army, Murphy was employed as a platelayer under the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
The newspaper article above reports Robert as missing, however his service papers survive which tells us that he was taken as a prisoner of war on 21st March, near St Quentin, France. Robert was then transported to Stendal Prisoner of War camp (west of Berlin). Sadly, he died of pneumonia at Stendal camp hospital on 27th June 1918.
Research by Chris.