Now, however, through the efforts of American Medal of Honor researcher Karl David Jensen of the Medal of Honor Society, the background to Thomas Murphy's death and burial location has been discovered.

Thomas Murphy, also known as Thomas Cosgrove, was born circa 1832 in Dublin, Ireland, and died on the 22 March 1900, aged 68, at his home at 133 John Street, Luzerne, Pittston, Pennsylvania, USA. He had been a miner and resident of Pittston for over thirty years.

The confusion with his name occured at the age of 16 when he left home to join the Army and enlisted under his mother's maiden name, Murphy.

Thomas Murphy VC was buried on the 24 March 1900 at Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery, Pittston, Pennsylvania, as stated in the Register of Deaths located on Market Street, Pittston.

[ London Gazette, 17 December 1867 ], Little Andaman Island, Indian Ocean, 7 May 1867, Private Thomas Murphy, 2nd Bn, ( 2nd Warwickshire ) Regiment

For the very gallant and daring manner in which, on the 7th May 1867, they risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through a dangerous surf to the rescue of some of their comrades, who formed part of an expedition which had been sent to the Island of Little Andaman, by order of the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah, with the view of ascertaining the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew of the ship "Assam Valley", who had landed there, and were supposed to have been murdered by the natives.

The officer who commanded the troops on the occasion reports "About an hour later in the day, Dr. Douglas, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment, and the four Privates referred to, gallantly manning the second gig, made their way through the surf almost to the shore, but finding their boat was half filled with water, they retired.

A second attempt made by Dr. Douglas and party proved successful, five of us being safely passed through the surf to the boats outside.

A third and last trip got the whole of the party left on shore safe to the boats"

It is stated that Dr. Douglas accomplished these trips through the surf to the shore by no ordinary exertion. He stood in the bows of the boat, and worked her in an intrepid and seamanlike manner, cool to a degree, as if what he was then doing was an ordinary act of every-day life.

The four privates behaved in an equally cool and collected manner, rowing through the roughest surf when the slightest hesitation or want of pluck on the part of any one of them would have been attended by the gravest results. It is reported that seventeen officers and men were thus saved from what must otherwise have been a fearful risk if not certainty of death.

Thomas Murphy was invested with his Victoria Cross by GOC Pegu, Major General Alured Faunce, Rangoon, Burma, on the 16th April 1868.

Five awards of the Victoria Cross were made for this action to 2nd Bn, 24th ( 2nd Warwickshire ) Regiment.

• Assistant Surgeon Campbell Douglas
• Private David Bell
• Private James Cooper
• Private William Griffiths
• Private Thomas Murphy