Tribute to Daniel Murphy Co-driver Crusader & Sherman tanks.

My paternal grandmother Marie Gardiner (Ray) remarried after my biological grandfather Walter Sidney Ray died in the British army , Kings Royal Rifles Corps, retreat from Greece in April 1941.

After the war she met a quiet, methodical, gentle man called Daniel Murphy from Bermondsey, south London. He’d joined the army as an 18 year old in 1940 and was enlisted as a co-driver of Tanks for the mechanised cavalry unit of the 10th Royal Hussars, 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division. After a period of intense training he was deployed along with his outfit and was in theatre by the time of the XRH deployment to N Africa in November 1941.
XRH were involved in the battles of Gazala, Operation Crusader.and the first large allied victory that was the Second Battle for El Alamein. He was initially in Crusader Tanks then eventually was co-driver in Shermans both in Africa and Italy.
This collection is a tribute to 10th RH in NA and their subsequent involvement in Italy where they fought as both armoured and infantry units.
Rest in Peace Marie Murphy (nee Ray and Gardiner), Walter Sidney Ray KRRC D April 1941 and Daniel Murphy XRH 2Arm Bgde, 1st arm div.

Plan on building all tanks that were used by 10th Royal Hussars and units that supported them from the date they arrived in Africa. Plan to include Stuart’s, Grants, Valentines, Crusaders, Matildas and Shermans. Also a Universal Bren Carrier in desert camo/colours. May, room permitting, include an allied aircraft.
I do plan on adding DM’s cap badges (pictured) and his North Africa and Italy campaign medals.