Dennis, or Denis, Murphy was born in Deptford, Kent, on the 31st August 1891, the son of Maurice and Sarah Jane Murphy (née Slifield or Slyfield). His father was a dock labourer, and Dennis was the eldest of nine children in the family; however, by 1911 only Dennis and four of his siblings were still alive.
His home life as he grew up appears to have been difficult for him as reported in the following from the Greenwich and Deptford Observer newspaper on the 22nd July
1898: -
BEATING A BOY WITH A STRAP
Maurice Murphy, of Regent Street, Deptford, was charged at Greenwich on Wednesday with violently assaulting his son, Dennis, aged 6 years. Sergeant Francis said prisoner admitted assaulting the boy, adding that he gave the boy a shilling to get half-a-pint of beer and he brought back ninepence. He then hit him with the cane. There were several marks on the boy’s head and arm. Mr. Fenwick, having examined the boy, said there were bad bruises. Dr. Scott said there were at least 19 bruises on different parts of the boy’s body, which were probably caused by a strap. Prisoner denied that he beat the boy with a strap – Mr. Fenwick said the prisoner was not justified in beating the boy in such a brutal manner and sentenced him to a month’s hard labour.
Also, on at least one occasion, in May 1904, his mother sought refuge in the workhouse in Greenwich for herself and three of her children, including Dennis, because they were destitute at that time.
On finishing his formal education, Dennis Murphy found work selling fish, and by 1911, the family home was at 18, Knott Street, Deptford, Greater London.
Dennis later became a professional seaman, and served on board the Lusitania as a fireman in the Engineering Department. He was actually engaged at New York, on the 30th April 1915, for the ship's final voyage. His rate of pay was £6-10s.-0d. per month.
One week later, after the liner was torpedoed and sunk, he was fortunate enough to be counted as one of the survivors and landed at Queenstown.
When he eventually reached Liverpool, he was officially discharged from the Lusitania’s final voyage and paid the balance of wages owing to him. In keeping with all the crew, his wages were calculated for the period of the voyage, which in his case was reckoned to be from the 30th April 1915 until the 8th May, 24 hours after the ship foundered. Presumably after being paid off, he made his way back to his home in London.
Although Cunard records state that his forename was Dan, this was obviously an error, and his correct name was Dennis.
On Christmas Day, 1915, Dennis married Rose Hannah Houghton, who lived a few doors away from him in Knott Street, and they had eleven children. They lived for a time with his wife’s family at 22. Knott Street, before taking over his family home at 18. Knott Street.
As far as can be ascertained, Dennis continued to serve in the Mercantile Marine until 1919, at which point he became a general labourer.
In later years, the family resided at 36. Skipton House, Brockley, Lewisham, London.
Dennis Murphy died in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, on the 16th April 1979, aged 87 years.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, London England Church of England Marriages and Banns 1754 – 1938, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, Cunard Records, London England Workhouse Admissions and Discharges Records 1764 – 1921, England Dreadnought Seamen’s Hospital Admissions and Discharges 1826 – 1930, Greenwich and Deptford Observer, Lewisham Borough News, PRO BT 348, PRO BT 350, PRO BT 351/1/102123, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 20th January 2025.