William Henry Murdoch

Rank: Leading Seaman

Ship: HMS Maidstone & Submarine E23

Father: Mr William Murdoch

Aunt: Mrs Thomas Till

Brothers: A J Murdoch, C A Murdoch, J Murdoch, Frank Murdoch & Frederick Murdoch

Cousins: Thomas Archibald Till, William H Till & Frederick G Till

Aunt’s Address: 7 Paynton Road, Silverhill

Other Info: Additional name information from the Lives of the First World War Website.

Petty Officer Murdoch, of the Submarine E23, who has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his services in helping to destroy a German Dreadnought*. He was born at St Leonards and received his education at the Clive Vale School. He comes of an old Hastings family, being son of Mr William Murdoch, grandson of the late Mr Archibald Murdoch, dairyman, and nephew of Mr and Mrs Till of  7 Paynton Road, Silverhill. He has three brothers serving in France, one of them having been there since October 1914, one since July 1915 and one since March. He has been in the Navy ten years, having been on the Formidible for two years in the Mediterranean. He has travelled largely on different naval boats, and also served in submarines D5 (sunk), E6 and E23 ever since it was commissioned.

*SMS Westfalen was damaged but not sunk during the incident. It eventually ended up in British hands as part of the compensation for the scuttling of the German fleet at Scarpa Flow and was broken up in 1924.

Published: December 1914, November 1916 & October 1917

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