Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Nathaniel Murdoch, a hosiery trade warehouseman, born on the 13th December 1851 in St. Mary’s, Nottingham and his wife Mary Jane Murdoch (nee Hallam, married in the 3rd quarter of 1876 in the Nottingham district), born 1848 in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire. Walter was born in the 1st quarter of 1884 in St. George’s, Nottingham, his half blood sibling was, Edward Powers, a milkman, born on the 27th June 1874 in Nottingham and his sibling was Harry, a schoolboy, born on the 10th September 1877 in Nottingham, in April 1891 the family home was at 39, Bruce Grove, St. Mary’s, Nottingham. In March 1901 Walter was absent from the family home at 36, Station Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a hosiery trade warehouseman, his mother and brother Harry, an engineer’s pattern maker, also residing in the family home was Harry’s wife Olive, born 1879 in Derby, and their children, Joseph Henry, born 1897 in Manchester, Lancashire, Olive, born 1900 in Nottinghamshire and Arthur, born 1901 in Leicestershire. Walter’s father died in April 1901 in Loughborough, aged 49. Walter’s father had been married to Mary Elizabeth Murdoch (nee Powers, married in the 3rd quarter of 1873 in the Nottingham district), born in the 3rd quarter of 1851 in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, with whom they had a son Edward Powers, born in 1874, Mary died in the 3rd quarter of the following year 1875, in Nottingham, aged 23. In April 1911 Walter was employed as a hosiery trade counterman and was residing at 15, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, together with his wife Elizabeth Murdoch (nee Watson, married in the 2nd quarter of 1910 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born on the 6th August 1878 in Loughborough. Walter and Elizabeth had two children, Walter Gordon, born on the 29th August 1911 and Eric, born on the 4th August 1914, both children were born in Loughborough, after Walter’s death his widow and family resided at 25, Moore Lane, Loughborough. His widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension for herself and the two children of twenty one shillings, to commence on the 14th February 1916.
Walter enlisted/attested into the Militia on the 19th September 1900in Loughborough, and was allotted the service number 7510. He gave his place of birth as St. George’s, Nottingham and age as 18 years 8 months. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as labourer. He gave his present address as 36, Station Street, St. Peter’s, Loughborough, Leicestershire.
He confirmed that he had previously served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion Robin Hood Rifles.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 18 years 6 months, that he was 5 feet 7⅞ inches in height, weighed 119 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was brown. The following distinctive marks were noted, mole on his left breast, he gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Walter, mother Mary, brothers -?-.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Posted. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 20/9/00.
Commenced. 49 days Drill. 20/9/00.
Embodied. Stationed at Curragh. ?/?/??
To Leicestershire Regt. 14/11/00.
Joined. At Leicester. 19/11/00.
Posted. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Allotted service No. 5962. 19/11/00.
Transferred. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. ?/?/??
Awarded. 2nd Class Certificate of Education. 2/5/04.
Awarded. 2nd Class Certificate of Education. 25/8/04.
Awarded. Certificate for Telegraphy. ?/?/05.
Extended. Service to 8 years with the Colours. ?/?/??
Admitted. Cosham Hospital. Colic. 2/9/14.
Discharged. Hospital. 5/9/14.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 11/11/00 – 3/2/01. 82 days.
Egypt. 4/2/01 – 14/12/02. 1 year 314 days.
Home Service. 15/12/02 – 12/10/03. 302 days.
India. 13/10/03 – 23/12/08. 5 years 72 days.
Home Service. 24/12/08 – 8/9/14. 5 years 259 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 9/9/14 – 19/7/15. 314 days.
Total Service 14 years 248 days.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.
Walter’s surviving service record amounts to a total of fourteen pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 19 Jul-15 – LA BRIQUE. Scrap between our digging party in front of EAST KENT REGIMENT trenches and German patrol. Germans one man wounded, turned Machine Gun on working party wounding 4. Total wounded 6.
On Thursday, September, 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following photographs and details:- Private W. MURDOCK, 1st Leicestershire Regiment, killed in action on July 19th. His wife and children live at 36, Freehold-street, Loughborough.