Picture courtesy GALERIA FOTOGRAFICA  

William McMaster Murdoch was the First Officer on board the Titanic. He was 39 years old. 

Murdoch was on the bridge when the iceberg was sighted and ordered the engines full astern and the helm hard astarboard to try to steer to the left of the iceberg. He also pulled the lever closing the watertight doors. 

Murdoch took charge of loading the lifeboats on the starboard side of the ship. 

Further details of Murdoch's whereabouts during the sinking are unclear. Some sources say that he was the officer who committed suicide while others say it was Wilde.

Murdoch did not survive the disaster.

Created July 2002

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