A Wartime Love Story - an ambulance driver and a Pioneer Corps Soldier
Margaret Fitchett was a young woman living in Southam in Warwickshire. During the war she drove an ambulance and also worked as a VAD nurse in addition to an office job in which she was covering the roles of two men who had been called up.
When she and a friend went to buy tickets for a dance at the Sergeant's Mess a young Irish Sergeant called Michael Murphy said that he would only sell her a ticket if she promised to dance with him. She kept he promise, and it was the start of a true romance. They were married in 1942.
Michael (Mick) Murphy had come to England from his home in Ireland for work in the 1930s. He joined the Pioneer Corps in 1940 and was soon promoted to Sergeant. Before he was stationed near Southam his company had been in France and evacuated from Dunkirk. He went with the Army on D-Day. Margaret was very anxious as he was only allowed to send pre-printed postcards after they had landed to let her know he was alive. He was with the Second Army in Northern Europe until the end of the War.
History
Item list and details
5. Margaret's licence to drive and ambulance 6. Photo of Margaret and Mick 7. Photo of Margaret and Mick 8. Photo of Margaret and Mick's wedding 1942 9. Photo of Mick (left) and colleagues in uniform 10. Mick's Record of Service 11. Enlistment Notice 12. Soldier's Service and Pay Book cover 13. Soldier's Service and Pay Book inner 14. Notes in various currencies found in Mick's paybook 15. Notes in various currencies found in Mick's paybook - reverse 16. Second Army Thanksgiving Service 1945 - cover 17. Second Army Thanksgiving Service 1945 - inner cover 18. Thank-you card from Field Marshal Montgomery 19. Thank-you card from Commander of the Second Army 20. Postcards sent after D-Day 21. Postcards sent after D-Day - reverse 22. Release Leave Certificate 23. Release certificate 24. Letter from Army Council 25. Letter from Major Leslie 26. Transfer to Army ReservePerson the story/items relate to
Margaret Murphy (nee Fitchett) Michael MurphyPerson who shared the story/items
Jean MurphyRelationship between the subject of the story and its contributor
ParentsType of submission
Shared at Ahmadiyyah Mosque Hall, Warwickshire on 7 October 2023. The event was organised by Leamington History Group.Record ID
97037 | LEA008Usage metrics
