Contact Information:
Special Collections
Academy Library
UNSW@ADFA
CRICOS Provider Code: 00100G
Australian Defence Force Academy
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6268 6270
Fax: +61 2 6247 2324
Email: specialcollections@adfa.edu.au
URL: http://www.lib.adfa.edu.au/speccoll/speccoll.htm
| Prepared by: | Special Collections |
| Date completed: | July 2004 |
| Encoded by: | Special Collections |
| Last updated: | April 2007 |
© Australian Defence Force Academy. All rights reserved.
| Creator: | Murdoch, Sydney Richard |
| Title: | Papers of Sydney Richard Murdoch |
| Date Range: | 1915-1918 |
| Reference Number: | MS 345 |
| Extent: | 6 cm (3 folders) |
| Repository: | Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA |
This collection comprises letters written by Sydney Richard Murdoch to his sister Rita and brother-in-law Billy Carlisle from Europe during World War I. The letters document the experiences of a young Australian soldier from training in Egypt to active service in France and recreation leave in various locations.
The collection starts with his first letter written from the Red Sea while on board HMAT A72 Beltana and caught the first mail to leave the ship since its departure from Sydney to his last letter from France dated 25/8/1918 describing active service, being shot through the back of his hand and his return to the field. Also included is a printed tribute card for 2nd Lieutenant S.R. (Syd) Murdoch, DCM, 30th Battalion A.I.F. from his parents and family; correspondence from Major J.M. Lean, Base Records Office, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne to J. Murdoch, Esq., "Arnleigh", Clissold St, Katoomba, N.S.W., together with a description of the locality and photograph of the temporary memorial of the late S.R. Murdoch.
Sydney Richard Murdoch, DCM, was born at Windsor, New South Wales, the son of John and Mary Murdoch of Katoomba, New South Wales.
He embarked for Egypt on 9 November 1915 on HMAT A72 Beltana. During the First World War he served as a Sergeant with the 30th Battalion Australian Infantry, A.I.F. in Egypt and France prior to receiving his commission to 2nd Lieutenant in 1918. In 1917 he was mentioned in despatches to Sir Douglas Haig, and in 1918 was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Sydney Richard Murdoch was killed in action by shell fire in France on the 3rd September 1918, aged 21 years and 9 months and is buried in Péronne Communal Cemetery Extension, Péronne, France.
References:
National Archuves of Australia, 2007
AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918, War, Army
The purple and gold : a history of the 30th Battalion, compiled by H. Sloan (1938).
Papers of Sydney Richard Murdoch, Academy Library, UNSW@ADFA, Australian Defence Force Academy, MS 345, Box [Number], Folder [Number].
Soldiers -- Australia -- Correspondence.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, Australian.
Box 1
Folder 3
Letters to Rita and Billy Carlisle from Syd Murdoch, 15/1/1918
One letter and one page fragment of a letter from David to Rita, 1917-1918
Tribute card for 2nd Lieutenant S.R. (Syd) Murdoch, DCM, 30th Battalion A.I.F., from his parents and family, September 1918
Letter from Major J.M. Lean, Base Records Office, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne to J. Murdoch, Esq., "Arnleigh", Clissold St, Katoomba, N.S.W., together with a description of the locality and photograph of the temporary memorial of the late S.R. Murdoch, 31 March 1920