Description
1914-15 Star Trio, 1337 Sergeant Edward James Alexander Murdock, 11th Bn Royal Fusiliers, a 45 year old veteran who first joined the Coldstream Guards at 14. one of Royal Mail’s Casualties having served 12 years in the Army as a Drummer, followed by 18 years 7 months with the London Postal Service as a Bagman.
1914-15 Star officially impressed: “1337 Sgt E.J.H. Murdock. R. Fus:” Matches medal roll and MIC which has his initial as E.J.H. so correct but should be E.J.A.
WW1 pair officially impressed: “1337 Sjt. E.J.A. Murdock. R. Fus.”
Edward James Alexander Murdock was born on 26th August 1871 in Knightsbridge, London, Middlesex.
The son of Soldier James Murdock
When he was a boy of only 14 years and 4 months old, he signed up with the Coldstream Guards on 4th November 1885 with number 6780.
He spent a number of years as a Bandsman, having began as a Boy on 5th November 1885, he was promoted to Drummer on 24th March 1887 and served for the rest of his army service as Drummer until his discharge following the end of his 12 years (following becoming of age) on 4th November 1897.
He earned no medals for his service, spending 12 years at home, being a Drummer he was probably a member of the famous Coldstream Guards Band.
After leaving the Army he married Amy Elizabeth during 1903, he took on a job with the General Post Office aka Royal Mail, by 1911 he worked as a Porter living in Clapham Common.
By the time of his death his pension from Royal Mail amounted to 18 years 7 months.
At time of World War 1, Edward was a member of the Special Reserve and was mobilised for service.
He landed into the War in France on 26th July 1915.
He was killed in action on the 1st Day of the Somme, 1st July 1916.
On that day the 11th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), were part of the 54th Brigade, 18th Eastern Division.
“In 1916 the 11th Royal Fusiliers were part of 54th Brigade, 18th Division. On the 1st July they were to attack East of Mametz. The 11th Royal Fusiliers along with 7th Bedfords led the attack of the 54th Brigade, they crossed the front line and support trenches without difficulty but on leaving Emden Trench they encountered fire from The Triangle, the German third line, and the leading companies of the Bedfords suffered heavy losses. The strongpoint was rushed and silenced; the men continuing to within a short distance of Pommiers Trench. Here they had to halt having caught up with the British creeping barrage.
At 7.50am when the barrage had lifted and aided by two of their own machine guns, they entered Pommiers Trench, the Fusiliers on the left cleared the craters and communication trenches.
At 8.30 am a frontal attack was made on Maple Trench, the Fusiliers equipped with Lewis guns succeeded in forcing an entry into Maple Trench from where they opened fire on Pommiers Redoubt killing many of the defenders on the parapet. The Fusiliers immediately rushed through the gaps in the wire. After bitter hand to hand fighting with no quarter being given or taken, the Germans were killed or taken prisoner.
After 5.00pm the whole area was quiet with little fire on either side, the wounded were brought in and supplies brought up. Roads and rail tracks were repaired and field batteries brought forward. The patrols north of Montauban could see in front of them Caterpillar Wood, Mametz Wood, Bernafay and Trones Wood and, on the horizon the village of Longueval and the dark menacing shapes of Delville Wood and High Wood. They would not know the names of these places, destined like the village they had just taken, to be engraved forever in our history.”
