Local Heroes WW1

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 02 June 2015 23:01

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(Pte) Murdo Macleod

Private Murdo Macleod a Sailor prior to enlistment 23th Novembert 1914, he embarked with the 12th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 15 February 1915.

Murdo Macleod was born in Tarbet Fearn Scotland 1891.  He was the youngest of 13 children born to Rev Ronald Smith Macleod and Kate Isle Welsh Rodgers. He immigrated to South Australia sometime between 1911 and 1915 as an apprentice Mercantile Mariner.

Pte. Murdo Macleod, 12th Battalion AIF enlisted in WWI 27.11.2014 in South Australia serving in the 1st AIF. He was wounded on several occasions, severe gunshots wounds to the leg fighting in the Dardanelles and then further suffered horrific gun and bomb wounds in Gallipoli. He was made an invalid and disembarked to Australia on the 3rd of September 1915. He received an honourable discharge on the 8th of December 1915 for being disabled in the great war. He was not expected to either walk properly or be able to work again although eventually he did. Murdo, re enlisted in the citizens Military forces in WWII on 24th December 1940. He received the Commonative ANZAC medalon of Simpson and his donkey.

On returning here from WWI he married Elise Marjory Harris (Madge) a local girl from Birkenhead. They had eleven children an lived on Fletcher Rd Birkenhead until they died. His eldest son Hector Ian Macleod (DEC) served in WWII as a sargent in the 2nd AIF.

Murdo’s third son Gordon Kenneth (Mac) served in WWII in the as a captain in the American small ship section.

To date there is only one living daughter, Jeannett (Jenny). Jenny still lives in the Port Adelaide area, as do many of the descendants from the Macleod family.

Honours

Murdo Macleod was entitled to wear Two ‘Wound Stripes’ on the left forearm sleeve of his tunic, and was later awarded the 1914/15 Star Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal which were sent to him by Base Records Melbourne. From 336,931 Australians who embarked for overseas service (excluding the RAN), there were 155,133 ‘woundings’ (including gassing and shell-shock). There were 5,583 Australian soldiers wounded three times, 807 four times, 105 five times and 10 six times. One soldier is recorded as having been wounded seven times.  

The 1914–15 Star is a campaign medal of the British Empire that was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of World War I against the Central European Powers during 1914 and 1915. The medal was never awarded singly and recipients were also awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The British War Medal 1914-1920 was awarded to members of British and Imperial forces for service between the outbreak of hostilities on 5 August 1914 and the Armistice on 11 November 1918, although eligibility was extended to include service in various theatres up to 1920. Some 5.7 million medals in silver were issued throughout the British Commonwealth, of which 338,000 were awarded to Australians.

The Victory Medal 1914-1919 was awarded to members of British and Imperial forces for operational service only, between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, although eligibility was extended to include service in various theatres during 1919. Some 5.7 million medals were issued throughout the British Commonwealth – 336,000 were awarded to Australians.

Murdo Macleod was also entitled to receive the ‘Discharged Returned Soldier Badge’, which was instituted in 1916 for members of the AIF who had returned to Australia from active service overseas and been discharged. Some 267,300 badges were issued: it was only for wear with civilian dress, to allow veterans to show that they had served.

‘Discharged Returned Soldier Badge’

The Semaphore War Memorial was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war, such as Private Murdo Macleod.

Local Commemoration

Semaphore

The Semaphore War Memorial on the Esplanade was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war. A temporary ‘Memorial Arch’ of wood and iron was first erected at the entrance to the Semaphore Jetty bearing the banner title, ‘For King & Empire’. On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the new memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – one on behalf of the citizens of Port Adelaide district, one for the returned soldiers and sailors, one on behalf of the parents of the fallen men, and one on behalf of the widows and orphans.

Private Murdo Macleod was most likely among the several thousand people who attended the unveiling of the Semaphore War Memorial on 24 May 1925. Joining them would undoubtedly have been his Wife Elise Marjory ( Madge).

The following year, a granite obelisk was erected on the foundation stones, with an electric ‘turret type’ clock and topped by a marble Angel of Peace with wings outspread. The local newspaper noted, “all the names of those who enlisted from the district or who made the supreme sacrifice cannot be placed on the monument” so it instead bears a simple commemorative plaque.

On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the Semaphore War Memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – including this stone laid by Colonel Charles Philip Butler DSO (ex-43rd Battalion AIF) on behalf of the returned sailors and soldiers such as Private Murdo Macleod.

Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL

For the 2015 commemoration of the Anzac Centenary, the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL has created a Virtual Honour Board listing the names of over 2,000 local men who volunteered to serve in World War 1. Among them are counted Murdo Macleod a Sailor from Birkenhead and a wounded veteran of service in Gallipoli and service in WW2.