Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (Lieut. B. Dunphy. R.N.R.); together with a scarce Urban District of Llandudno Memorial Plaque 1914-19, featuring an angel with high-relief wings, holding a laurel branch over the shield of the Urban District and the engraved name, ‘Bernard Dunphy, Lieut., R.N.’, with the legend, ‘Pro Deo Rege et Patria 1914-1919’, 189mm, bronze, mounted on a wooden base, 300mm x 30mm, good very fine and a rare and attractive piece (2) £400-£500

Bernard Dunphy was born in Llandudno on 29 December 1881, and was educated at St. George’s National School and Llandudno College. He later served as a cadet in H.M.S. Conway from October 1897 for two years. He was subsequently employed by the Cunard Steamship Company, as an officer on ships including Carmania, Franconia, Ivernia, and Saxonia. Commissioned Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve on 28 December 1899, he was promoted Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 11 April 1906, Sub-Lieutenant on 3 March 1907, and Lieutenant on 18 October 1909. Following the outbreak of the Great War he served in H.M.S. Endymion until 27 November 1914 when he transferred to H.M.S. Bayano, an Elders and Fyffes Line banana-boat converted to an armed merchant cruiser, part of the Tenth Cruiser Squadron.

Dunphy was killed in action along with 194 others on 11 March 1915 when Bayano was sunk within minutes by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U-27 off the Galloway coast of Scotland. This included their Captain, Captain Carr, who was on the bridge of the ship, standing without fear waving good-bye while shouting “Good luck to you boys” before the ship disappeared under the waves. Bernard Dunphy has no known grave and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, and is also remembered on the Llandudno Roll Of Honour.