Headwear - World War II Soldiers Helmet, c.1930s-1940s

Historical information

Dr. Ian Stephen MacLeod Murphy (1905-1981) studied at Geelong College (1919-1922) and then Melbourne University (1929-1937). He enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in 1939 and served as a navy surgeon for the duration of World War II. He moved to Emerald in 1947 after running a successful medical practice in Hampton, with the intention of retiring and breeding turkeys. But Emerald and the surrounding districts had no doctor, so for the next 34 years, Dr. Murphy provided tireless medical care to Emerald and surrounding districts. Dr Murphy was awarded the British Empire Medal in 1977 for devotion to the health of the community. He died in 1981 at the age of 76 years and a Memorial Fund was set up in his name to provide support for local students studying Medicine. This helmet was worn by Dr Murphy when he was in London during the blitz in World War II. He narrowly escaped injury or worse when shrapnel smashed into his helmet. He souvenired the shrapnel which is also in this collection - VEMU1647.7.

Significance

This helmet recalls a particular wartime experience of Dr Murphy who was to become Emerald's first GP.

Physical description

Tin Army Helmet from World War II

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten identifier of Dr. Murphy

Other parts of this item

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