2nd Lieutenant Ronald Hamilton William Murdoch

• Age: 21
• From: Toxteth
• Regiment: 4TH KINGS
• Died on Saturday 28th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B & 8C

Ronald Hamilton William Murdoch was born on the 3rd July 1895 the son of David Hamilton Ball Murdoch, a Master Mariner, and his wife Helen Christina (nee McFarlane) who were married at St Peter's Church in Liverpool on the 9th Aug 1889. Helen’s residence was Kirkholm, Scotland whilst David was from Great Crosby. Ronald was baptised as William Ronald Hamilton Murdoch at Holy Trinity Church in Toxteth Park on the 1st Sept 1895. The family at this time were living at 43 Kingsley Road, Liverpool. [Kirkholm – no such place, only other place is Kirkcolm, Stranraer] 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 5 Thorndale Road, Waterloo. Mother Helen is aged 32, born in Glenlivet, Wigtownshire, Scotland, children Ronald H. aged 5 born Liverpool, and Helen H. is 1 month old born Waterloo. Helen’s widowed mother Margaret McFarlane aged 67 is visiting, and they have a servant Ellen Gaskill aged 14. Father David must have been away at sea, and son David Malcom, born in 1897(d.1975) is not present.  

Ronald attended Merchant Taylor's School between 1906 and 1911. He sat and passed the Oxford Local Junior Exam in both 1910 and 1911.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 53 Kimberley Drive, Crosby. Mother Helen is aged 40(married 20 years, 4 children, 2 still alive), Ronald aged 15 at school, and Helen 10. Father David is once again away at sea.   
There were two children who died in infancy, David Malcolm and Hamilton meaning Ronald and Helen were the only surviving children of the family.

Ronald was working for Royal Insurance Company when war broke out. He joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps as Private 5948 and trained for a Commission. This was obtained when he was gazetted on 02/06/1916 and posted to the 21st Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, a reserve Battalion. He was then reposted to the 4th Battalion of the KLR and went to France in September 1916. 

Ronald was killed in action on 28th October 1916 aged 21 when attacking Dewdrop Trench. His body was not recovered from the battlefield and his name is on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Gloucester Citizen 25th Nov 1916 

Lieut. R. H. Murdoch Killed in Action. 

To the list of members of the staff of the Royal Insurance Company killed in action the name of Second Lieut. R. H. Murdoch, of the head office staff, has unfortunately to be added. Lieut. Murdoch joined the 17th Pals Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment, in September, 1914, and obtained his commission in June last. He was 21 years of age and a promising official of the company. 

Ronald's mother died just 6 weeks after the loss of her beloved  son. Her death, at 36 York Avenue, Great Crosby on 09/12/1916 when aged 47, was attributed as a result of the loss of her son. The Liverpool Echo on 13/12/1916 describes "Peace to a broken heart". The Daily Post of 29/12/1916 contains an In Memorium for both Ronald and his Mother.  In the notice it directly describes Helen Christina's death as a result of his loss". 

Helen Chistina is buried at St James Cemetery and Ronald is also named on the headstone. 

His medals and effects were sent to his father who was by that time resident in Carshalton, Surrey. He lived to be 87. Ronald's sister died in 1965. 

Ronald is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Merchant Taylor's School 
Crosby and Blundellsands 
Waterloo with Seaforth.

We currently have no further information on Ronald Hamilton William Murdoch, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.