Birth date:
1884
Birth Place:
Govan, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Date Joined:
14.08.1914 Merchant Navy
Date Discharged:
14.12.1918 Merchant Navy
Death date:
26.10.1976
Place of death:
Auckland, New Zealand
Display No. 4B
ROSS, Murdoch
Murdoch Ross was from a seafaring family. Ross joined RMS Tahiti travelling from Glasgow to Sydney in 1911. He remained with the ship, signing on with the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand and making multiple voyages on the vessel’s Sydney to San Francisco route.
At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Tahiti was requisitioned as a troopship. Ross served on board until 1917 making eight voyages, including being part of the convoy transporting the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in October 1914. From 1917-1918 he was stationed at Port Chalmers dry dock refitting and repairing troopships. After the war, he continued on at Port Chalmers converting vessels back to passenger and cargo ships.
In the Second World War, Ross worked for the Labour Department organising the supply of labour for the wartime domestic economy. After the war he reached the position of Auckland District Commissioner of the NZ Labour Department. Murdoch is the father of Rear Admiral John O’Connell Ross, whose medals are also on display here.
Awarded medal(s)
Medal Description [Left to Right]:
The British War Medal
The British War Medal was instituted in 1919 to recognise the successful conclusion of the First World War (1914-1918). Its coverage was later extended to recognise service until 1920, recognising mine clearing operations at sea, and participation in operations in North and South Russia, the eastern Baltic, Siberia, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
The Mercantile Marine War Medal
The Mercantile Marine War Medal, instituted in 1919, was awarded to all members of the Merchant Navy who had undertaken one or more voyages through a war or danger zone during the First World War. The ribbon has three bands: green, white and red. These represent a ship’s starboard (green) and port (red) running lights with the masthead (white) steaming light in the centre.
The New Zealand War Service Medal
The New Zealand War Service Medal was awarded for 28 days’ full time service or six months’ part time service in the Second World War in any of the New Zealand Armed Forces including the Reserves, Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service, or Home Guard, between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.