Grave of Titanic Officer’s Wife Restored in New Zealand

A neglected grave belonging to Ada Florence Murdoch, the wife of William McMaster Murdoch, the first officer aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic, has been restored in Christchurch, New Zealand. The restoration was initiated by the NZ Remembrance Army (NZRA), a charity dedicated to preserving the graves and memorials of military personnel.

Ada Murdoch, born Ada Florence Banks in 1873, has a historic connection to the Titanic, which sank during its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg. This maritime disaster claimed over 1,500 lives and continues to captivate public interest. According to Simon Strombom, founder of the NZRA, “It’s a tragedy that still fascinates people to this day.”

Ada’s Historical Significance

Ada Murdoch’s grave, damaged in a previous earthquake, was brought to the NZRA’s attention by Dr Andrew Macdonald, the London-based historian for the NZ Returned and Services’ Association. Strombom emphasized the importance of restoring her grave, stating, “Our charity obviously focuses on restoring service graves, but this story was just so exceptional, we felt we needed to do the right thing by her and recognise (Murdoch’s) service by putting her grave back together.”

Ada’s life was intertwined with significant historical events. Growing up in a politically progressive family in Christchurch, she signed the petition for women’s suffrage in 1892. Her husband, William Murdoch, born in Scotland in the same year, served as an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve before joining the White Star Line. The couple met aboard the Runic in 1903 and married four years later.

The Tragic Fate of William Murdoch

During the Titanic’s fateful voyage, William Murdoch was in charge of the bridge when the ship struck the iceberg at 23:40 on April 14, 1912. As chaos ensued and passengers were loaded into lifeboats, he was swept into the icy waters, and his body was never recovered. Strombom noted that William was responsible for launching around ten lifeboats, saving many lives during the crisis.

“From all accounts from the survivors, he did his job really well,” Strombom remarked.

The aftermath of the disaster saw William Murdoch depicted negatively in various media, including the 1997 film directed by James Cameron. This portrayal caused considerable distress for his family and led to public backlash in his hometown of Dalbeattie, Scotland. Following complaints, film executives visited the town in 1998 to apologize for the negative depiction.

Ada Murdoch, faced with the loss of her husband and the subsequent media scrutiny, returned to New Zealand in 1917. She lived with her father and sisters in Christchurch and never remarried. Strombom shared that Ada expressed her only disappointment in her marriage was that she and William never had children. She passed away on April 21, 1941, at the age of 65, and was buried in a family plot at Linwood Cemetery.

The restoration of Ada Murdoch’s grave serves as a poignant reminder of her connection to one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. While the NZRA primarily focuses on military graves, the extraordinary story of Ada and her husband resonated deeply with the organization. Strombom noted that attempts to contact her relatives have been challenging, but the dedication to preserving her legacy remains strong.

As a result of this restoration, Ada Murdoch’s story, intertwined with the Titanic’s tragic fate, continues to be a vital part of maritime history, ensuring her contributions and connections are not forgotten.