Murdock, Henry (Harry)
Rifleman
No. 6018, 11th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 24)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
Holywood and District War Memorial
First Holywood Presbyterian Church
Brother of Rifleman Samuel Murdock (No. 18533)
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Murdoch.
Henry Murdock was born on 11 April 1892 in Hill Street, Holywood and he was a son of Samuel and Mary Murdock (nee Best) who were married on 11 May 1891 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. Samuel Murdock (aged 26) from 16 Maria Street, Belfast was a son of Samuel Murdock, a blacksmith. Mary Best (aged 25), a charwoman from 28 Christopher Street, Belfast was a daughter of John Best, a labourer.
The Murdock family lived at 7 Spencer Street, Holywood.
Samuel Murdock worked as a labourer in the gas works and he and Mary had at least seven children:
Henry (born 11 April 1892 in Hill Street, Holywood)
Mary (born 10 February 1894 in Hill Street, Holywood)
Samuel (born 7 January 1896 in Hill Street, Holywood)
Alexander (born 18 January 1898 in Spencer Street, Holywood)
Ellen (born 30 January 1900 in Spencer Street, Holywood)
Elizabeth (born 5 August 1902 in Spencer Street, Holywood)
John (born 5 July 1904 in Spencer Street, Holywood)
Henry, Samuel and Alexander all served with the Royal Irish Rifles during the Great War. Alexander was wounded twice and survived. Henry and Samuel were both killed in action and Henry was the first of the two brothers to die.
Prior to the outbreak of the Great War Henry Murdock worked as a general labourer. He enlisted in Belfast and served with the 11th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman Henry Murdock was 24 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and, initially he was posted as missing in action. Through the pages of the County Down Spectator his mother Mary appealed for information. Later it was officially confirmed that he must be presumed to have been killed in action and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Holywood and District War Memorial and in First Holywood Presbyterian Church.