| Thomas Murphy was the eldest son of Hugh and of Mary Murphy (nee Cullen). They were married about 1893.
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| Thomas Xavier Murphy was born about 1894 in Thayetmyo, Burma. His father was in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Thomas was the oldest of six children.
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| From birth records, it seems the family returned to live in Omagh in 1895.
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| The 1901 census lists Thomas as age 7, living with the family at house 30 in Loy Street, Cookstown. His father was a sergeant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
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| Family: Hugh Murphy, Mary Murphy, Thomas Xavier Murphy (born about 1894 in Thayetmyo, Burma, Mary Murphy (born 31st July 1895, Cookstown), Rosanna A Murphy (born 27th September 1897, Omagh), Martha Ellen P Murphy (born 3rd July 1900, Omagh), Eileen / Elaine / Ellen Josephine Murphy (born 6th October 1902, Cookstown), Hugh Patrick Murphy (born 1st July 1904, Cookstown).
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| The 1911 census lists Thomas as age 17, living with the family at house 3 in Union Street, Cookstown. Thomas was still at school. Hugh Murphy was described as a pensioner from the 4th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was working as a rural postman.
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| Thomas emigrated to Canada / USA.
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| Thomas’ father, Hugh Murphy, was a colonel in the British Army.
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| 1917
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| Thomas enlisted with the Canadian Royal Flying Corps.
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| Four months into his training, on 26th October 1917, Cadet Thomas X Murphy, of the Royal Flying Corps, was training alone. In the vicinity of Wexford post office, in Canada, Cadet Thomas X Murphy’s aircraft crashed.
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| Cadet Murphy survived the initial crash, he was still alive when he was extricated from the plane. The camp ambulance from Leaside Aerodrome was sent for, but Cadet Murphy was beyond all aid when it arrived. The cause of death was a fracture at the base of the skull.
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| The book ‘Dancing in the Sky: The Royal Flying Corps in Canada’ refers to the accident in a table of those killed.
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| From the Toronto Telegram dated October 1917: Cadet Instantly Killed (When machine crashed to earth near Wexford yesterday afternoon)
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| Flying yesterday in the vicinity of Wexford post office (Canada), Cadet Thomas X Murphy, of the Royal Flying Corps, fell a distance of about one thousand feet and was fatally injured. The machine came to earth on Holden’s farm, which is situated on the west half of lot 7, concession 4, east of Yonge Street. The cause of the accident has not been ascertained, but it is believed that engine trouble was responsible for the fatality. The first persons to arrive at the scene were Frank Holden and Arthur Martin. The aviator was still alive when the extricated him from the machine. The camp ambulance from Leaside was sent for and came as quickly as possible, but Murphy was beyond all aid when it arrived. The cause of death was a fracture at the base of the skull. The deceased flying man had been in training for the past four months. He was about twenty three years old and was born in Ireland. It is stated that his father is a colonel in the British Army. An uncle lives in New York and it is expected that he will come to Toronto, but apparently he did not arrive on the train this morning. The plane was badly wrecked and was taken back to the camp. An inquest on Murphy will be opened this afternoon by Coroner Clendennan.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th December 1942: 25 Years Ago – Deaths
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| 26th October 1917 – Cadet Thomas Murphy of Cookstown, killed in a flying accident at Toronto.
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| Memorials
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| Cadet Thomas X Murphy is buried at Toronto (Mount Hope) Cemetery.
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| Cadet Thomas Murphy is listed on Ballycarry War Memorial.
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| Many thanks to Wesley Wright for taking the photo.
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| The CWGC record Cadet Thomas X Murphy as the son of Hugh Murphy of Bentra, Ballcarry, County Antrim, Ireland, and of Mary Murphy of 532 Jamaica Avenue, Astoria, Long Island, New York.
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