Pte. Francis Leoland Murphy memorial stained glass
A stained glass window in the south west wall of the LaSalette Church pays tribute to the memory of Pte. Francis Leoland Murphy. Francis was born in 1885 in Silver Hill to John and Elsie Forbes Murphy. He enlisted in the 133 rd on February 9, 1916 indicating he had been a member of the 39 th Militia and was a farmer. He was also college educated and an accomplished writer who sent a steady stream of letters home to the Simcoe Reformer describing their days in training at Camp Borden and later in England. Francis and his friend, John Carnaham of St Williams, were placed in the 29 th Battalion, British Columbia. John was killed on April 9, 1917 at the battle of Vimy Ridge. It had a profound impact on Francis. He would write a heart rendering story of how he visited a church and asked M. le Cure for some of his red roses to lay on his friend’s grave. Francis was killed in action four months later on August 21 at the Battle of Hill 70. He has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial and on the window that reflects the sorrow of a grieving family.
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Inscription
In loving memory of Private Francis L. Murphy. Donated by the family.
Pte. Francis Leoland Murphy memorial stained glass
A stained glass window in the south west wall of the LaSalette Church pays tribute to the memory of Pte. Francis Leoland Murphy. Francis was born in 1885 in Silver Hill to John and Elsie Forbes Murphy. He enlisted in the 133 rd on February 9, 1916 indicating he had been a member of the 39 th Militia and was a farmer. He was also college educated and an accomplished writer who sent a steady stream of letters home to the Simcoe Reformer describing their days in training at Camp Borden and later in England. Francis and his friend, John Carnaham of St Williams, were placed in the 29 th Battalion, British Columbia. John was killed on April 9, 1917 at the battle of Vimy Ridge. It had a profound impact on Francis. He would write a heart rendering story of how he visited a church and asked M. le Cure for some of his red roses to lay on his friend’s grave. Francis was killed in action four months later on August 21 at the Battle of Hill 70. He has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial and on the window that reflects the sorrow of a grieving family.
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The La Salette Historic Church, formerly known as “Our Lady of La Salette Roman Catholic Church”, was the mother Church for Catholics of the Norfolk, Oxford and Elgin area. The original brick church at 88 La Salette Rd opened in 1881. It was destroyed by a fire in March 1913. The current building was built in the same location and opened in April 1914. The La Salette Area Rural Roots Community Hall Corporation acquired this magnificent structure in 2012. It now operates as a non-denominational concert and venue hall for art and music groups and of course weddings and other events
Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.