Papers of Sydney Richard Murdoch
MSS 345
Collection Title
Papers of Sydney Richard MurdochCollection Identifier
MSS 345Inclusive date(s)
1915 to 1920Extent and Medium
Creator(s)
Category
Subject: Terms(s)
Subject: Person(s)
Collection Description
The collection comprises 28 letters written by Sydney Richard Murdoch to his sister Rita, and brother-in-law Billy Carlisle from the Middle East and Europe during World War 1. 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. Collection also includes: a letter and fragment of a letter from "David" to the Carlisles; a printed return thanks card for S.R. Murdoch (deceased) from his parents and family; a letter from Major J.M. Lean to J. Murdoch, together with a description of the locality and photograph of the grave of S.R. Murdoch, and a knotted hank of raw silk.
Administrative / Biographical history
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).
Acquisition Details
Scope and Content
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.
System of arrangement
The collection has been arranged in box then folder order.
Access Restrictions
Other
The collection is available for research.Reproduction Restrictions
Existence and Location of Orginals
Disclaimer
This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed above. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy.