Remembering World War II

Reginald English Murdoch

Sources: aviationsafety.net Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Name: Reginald English Murdoch Rank: Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) Service Number: R/100833 Service: 51 (RAF) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force Date of Birth: September 7, 1915 Place of Birth: Westville, Pictou Co., NS Date of Enlistment: April 10, 1941 Place of Enlistment: Toronto, ON Address at Enlistment: Toronto, ON Age at Enlistment: 25 Height: 5 feet, 4 ½ inches Complexion: Fair Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown Occupation: Riveter, Aircraft Marital Status: Married Next of Kin: Dora Elizabeth Murdoch, Queensland Beach, NS (Wife) Date of Death: June 25, 1943 Age: 27 Cemetery: Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery, Netherlands Grave Reference: Row F. Grave 24 Commemorated on Page 197 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on age April 22 Reginald English Murdoch was the son of James Harold Currie Murdoch (1885-1971) and Enid Castle (English) Murdoch (1894-1977) of Halifax, Nova Scotia. His father was a Halifax druggist (pharmacist). Reginald’s parents lived at 47 Inglis Street in Halifax. They were born in Pictou, NS. Reginald had one sister Esther Lorraine Murdoch Ziegler (1912-2005), and a brother James Harold Currie Murdoch II (1924- 2014) He married Dora Elizabeth Bishop (1910-1999) on April 10, 1941 in Toronto, Ontario, the same day he enlisted. Reginald worked at ‘Maple of Milling’ in 1935-1936 and at Moirs Limited (Moirs Chocolates) as a route supervisor in Halifax from 1936 to 1940. He was employed as a salesman and supervisor for the bread team and truck delivery salesmen. His co-workers found him an honest, sober, and industrious young man. Reginald’s enlistment records indicate he enjoyed football, basketball, swimming, and tennis (moderately). From 1940 to 1941, he worked for National Steel and Car Co. in Malton, Ontario as an aircraft riveter. Following his initial training and assessments, it was determined piloting wasn’t an option and he trained as an air gunner. Trainers indicated Reginald was a “steady, quiet determined airman with a good sense of responsibility and fine service spirit … a determined and energetic student. Applied himself diligently and is confident. Is calm and cool, reliable and willing.” In June 1942, Reginald was stationed at RAF Snaith, near the village of Pollington, south west of Goole in Yorkshire, England. Reginald was the air gunner on British Halifax bomber JD250 that was on a mission to Wuppertal, just south of the Ruhr area of north western Germany. The bomber was shot down by a night fighter (Messerschmitt BF-110 G-4), and crashed in the North Sea off the south west coast of Holland, approximately 20 km west-northwest of Vlissingen, Zeeland, Netherlands . All seven crew were killed. The other six crew lost were: Pilot Flight Officer James Noble C. MacKenzie (119333), RAF Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery, Plot 69, Row B, Grave 9 Flight Engineer Sergeant William Blackie (802586), RAF Runnymede Memorial on Panel 142 Navigator Pilot Officer Arthur James Fitchett (138391), RAF Castricum Protestant Churchyard, Plot J, Coll. Grave 6 Bomb Aimer Flying Officer Charles Alfred Johnson (135112), RAF Runnymede Memorial on Panel 125 Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner Sergeant Richard William Stevenson (1024896), RAF Runnymede Memorial on Panel 165 Air gunner Flight Sergeant Wilfred Andrews (R/104347), RCAF Runnymede Memorial on Panel 181 Four of the crew, Blackie, Fitchett, Johnson, and Stevenson, were never recovered and they are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. The three who were recovered all rest in different cemeteries. Flight Officer MacKenzie was interred in the Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery and Pilot Officer Fitchett – in the Castricum Protestant Churchyard. Reginald’s body washed ashore 19 days after the aircraft was shot down on July 14, 1943 at Kamperland. He was interred nearby (30 km away) at the Flushing Northern Cemetery in Vlissingen. The enemy pilot who shot down Halifax bomber JD250, Heinz Strüning, was himself shot down December 24, 1944. Flight Sergeant Reginald English Murdoch was posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings on August 16, 1946 in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy.

Flight Sergeant Reginald English Murdoch