- Home
- Articles
- Anzac Day Stories
- Page 25
- Heather Kennerley
Resources
- Search Military records Find your ancestors in our military collection
- Browse Memory BankRead the stories in the findmypast memory bank
- History of Anzac Day Find out more on the origins of Anzac Day
- Military History Articles Read articles by Military experts
- Boer War Learn more about the Boer War
- First World War Learn more about World War I
- Second World War Learn more about World War II
- Korean War Learn more about the Korean War
- Vietnam War Learn more about the Vietnam War
- Photos View wartime photos
- Videos Watch videos on the wars
- Free Digital Magazine Download the findmypast and Inside History Magazine
- Ask an Expert Send in your questions for our experts
- Blog Read our blog and stay up to date
- Inside History Magazine Read about our partner in this project
Mervyn Augustus Murdoch
by Heather Kennerley
Story 97
I wanted to share my story of my father Mervyn Augustus Murdoch born November 15 1918, son of William Murdoch and Christina Ann Munro in Gorge Road, Southland, New Zealand.
My father was stationed in the middle east during the WWII and served in the medical corps, so was one of those wee chaps you see on the movies patching everyone up while guns and bombs are going off all around!!. Although it wasn't a pleasant job, it was nonetheless very important in the survival of the men that served.
Most of his time was spent in Egypt, and though not sure of his exact whereabouts at times as it was top secret, he spent most of his time near the enemy lines tending the wounded. After the battles were over he had the terrible task of matching up arms and legs blown off to the appropriate torso.
One will never know the terrible things these men had to endure all in the name of serving for one's country. His favourite story was about when they were hungry in the desert they used to catch rats and cook them up and feel like they had eaten a banquet! They tasted very similar to chicken and became quite a delicacy for the men.
Photo of Mervyn Augustus Murdoch.
Story 97