Murdoch John PEDLAR

Badge Number: 15671
15671

PEDLAR, Murdoch John

Service Number: 1558
Enlisted: 9 March 1915, 1st Reinforcements - joined Bn in Adelaide
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 27th Infantry Battalion
Born: Natimuk, Victoria, Australia , August 1889
Home Town: Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Springbank, Mitcham, South Australia, 18 August 1949, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section)
Interred on 20 August 1949
Memorials: Mount Gambier Knight & Cleve Pictorial Honour Rolls
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World War 1 Service

9 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1558, 27th Infantry Battalion, 1st Reinforcements - joined Bn in Adelaide
31 May 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1558, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
12 Sep 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
4 Aug 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
12 Aug 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 27th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm
4 Nov 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1558, 27th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, Evacuated sick to UK. Rejoined unit Feb 17
26 Mar 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1558, 27th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, Evacuated to the UK Returned to Australia
5 Jul 1918: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1558, 27th Infantry Battalion, Sever Gunshot (or 'General Shrapnel') wound Left Arm RTA 11 Jan 18 Disch 4th Military District Keswick Barracks

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Biography contributed by VWM Australia

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922

Name Murdoch Jno Lovell Pedlar
Birth Date Abt 1889
Birth Place Mount Arapiles, Victoria
Registration Year 1889
Registration Place Victoria, Australia
Father William Pedlar
Mother Susan Collier
Registration Number 33541

Biography contributed by St Ignatius' College


 
Murdoch John Pedlar was born around 1889 in Mount Arapiles, Victoria, according to the Australia Birth Index, 1788–1922. His full registered name was Murdoch Jno Lovell Pedlar, and he was the son of William Pedlar and Susan Collier. He grew up in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Before enlisting, Murdoch worked as a labourer. Murdoch was unmarried and had no children at the time of his enlistment. His mother, Margaret Pedlar, was listed as his next of kin. He was 25 years and 7 months old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds, with a dark complexion, dark hair and grey eyes. On 9 March 1915, Murdoch enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Adelaide, joining the 1st Reinforcements of the 27th Infantry Battalion. On 31 May 1915, he embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT A2 Geelong for overseas service.
 

On 27th August 1915 he was taken on strength at Gallipoli. He was treated for indigestion and admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He was discharged to duty on 10th December. Later that month he was treated for Jaundice and admitted to hospital in Lemnos and then transferred to Mudros for further treatment and then to hospital in Alexandria. He returned to his unit 6th March 1916. He proceeded to France from Alexandria and arrived in Marseilles 21st March 1916.

In November 1916 he was admitted to hospital with exhaustion and transferred to England for treatment at the No 1 London General Hospital diagnosed with Trench Feet.

In early 1917, Murdoch rejoined his battalion in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and rejoined his Battalion 19th February 1917.

 On 26 May 1917, he was wounded in action, suffering a severe gunshot wound to the right arm. The injury was officially recorded in his Casualty Form (31 May 1917):"Wounded in action – gunshot wound right arm. Severe. Transferred to Norfolk War Hospital." Murdoch was treated at Norfolk War Hospital, then Harefield and the 3rd London General Hospital. He was posted to Convalescent Depots in England in June 1917 but was admitted to hospital again in July. On 4 March 1918, he returned to Australia, disembarking at Port Darwin and was medically discharged on 5 July 1918. His discharge statement read: "Physically unfit for further war service due to gunshot wound and chronic illness contracted on active duty."
 

Murdoch passed away on 18 August 1949 in Springbank, South Australia. His death was noted as related to his wartime service, though no exact cause was recorded. He was buried two days later, on 20 August 1949, in the AIF Section of West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. A resting place reserved for Australian service personnel. His legacy is also preserved at the Mount Gambier

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