Ivon Murdoch

Ivon George Murdoch MC and bar (1892–1958), also known as Ivan Murdoch was an Australian Army officer during World War I, notable for the rare distinction of twice being awarded the Military Cross (MC) for bravery.^[1]

Both nominations and awards were made within the space of one calendar year (1918). While Murdoch entered the army with rank of Private, he was later commissioned as an officer and reached the rank of Lieutenant.^[1]

Murdoch was the son of an immigrant Scottish Presbyterian minister and theologian, the Rev. Patrick Murdoch (1850–1940) and his wife Helen, née Garden (1826–1945); he was also the younger brother of a prominent journalist and newspaper executive, Sir Keith Murdoch (the father of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch).

When he enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 26 July 1915, Ivon Murdoch stated that his occupation was "Farmer" and his home address as Riversdale Road, Camberwell, Victoria.^[1] He was assigned initially to the 1–8 Reinforcements, 24th Battalion, which gave him the Service Number 3184. Murdoch was posted to the Western Front with the 8th Battalion.

Murdoch's first MC resulted from him leading extended night patrols, during March and April 1918, south-east of Ypres, Belgium in No Man's Land and behind German lines, which captured a pillbox and returned wounded men to Australian positions.^[2] His second MC was awarded for actions during August 1918 that successfully:

• defended recently captured German field guns near Rosieres, France and;
• set up a machine gun enfilade, during the Battle of Lihons (part of the Hundred Days Offensive).^[3][4]

Other

Following the war, Ivon Murdoch was a farmer at Wantabadgery, New South Wales.^[5]

Footnotes