Dalbeattie Town History
[In view of the unanticipated level of interest in the Memorial Prize, I am uploading pages that are still under construction. Some text and images may be absent, incomplete or out of sequence. I will be happy to receive any relevant information or images and will acknowledge it if included. - Richard Edkins.]
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Murdoch of the 'Titanic'
The White Star Line
List of Steamships
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James Bruce Ismay
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Captain Edward John Smith, RNR.
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Return to 'The White Star Line'
The recent release in the United Kingdom of the film 'Titanic' has yet again brought the actions of her crew under public scrutiny. This has also perpetuated myths about the principal officers such as Captain Edward John Smith and his First Officer William McMaster Murdoch. The film incorrectly portrayed Murdoch as a man who took bribes and committed suicide by shooting himself for being responsible for the collision. In fact, Murdoch lost his life trying to save as many passengers and crew as he could, and was probably dragged down by the ship as she sank.
This sub-page contains a detailed table of the steamships associated with the White Star Line between 1863 and 1912, including 'Titanic' herself. The statistics reveal two interesting features :-
(1) : Many ships on the White Star's transatlantic run gathered appalling records for collisions and damage. Ships on other runs, or sold out of the company, appear to have had a less disastrous career.
(2) :
In the following list, the writer has listed all White Star steamers in use between 1863 and 1912, including the collision record of each one. It is rather revealing :-
Ship's Name &
Service life |
Tonnage & Screws |
Mishaps |
Other |
Royal Standard
1863-1867 |
2,033 Tonnes
Single screw/sail. |
23/11/1863 : Iceberg nr. Antarctic. |
Australian, transatlantic runs. |
Sirius
(1865-1890) |
1,138 tonnes
single screw
compound engine. |
Nothing recorded. |
Mostly Mediterranean and transatlantic. |
Oceanic (1)
1871-1896 |
3,707 tonnes
single screw
compound engine. |
22/8/1882 : Collision. City of Chester sank off Golden Gate, 16 dead. |
Many refits. Transatlantic and transpacific runs. |
Atlantic
1871-1873 |
3,707 tonnes
single screw
compound engine. |
1/4/1873 : Wrecked off Nova Scotia in storm. |
Transatlantic run. |
Tropic
(1871-1873) |
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Asiatic
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Baltic
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Republic
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Adriatic (1)
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Celtic (1)
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Gaelic (1)
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Traffic
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Belgic (1)
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Rimac
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Britannic (1)
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Germanic
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Arabic (1)
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Coptic
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Ionic
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Doric (1)
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Belgic (2)
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Gaelic (2)
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Cufic (1)
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Runic (1)
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Murdoch 2nd Officer. |
Teutonic
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Majestic
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Nomadic (1)
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Tauric
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Magnetic
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Bovic
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Gothic
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Cevic
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Pontic
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Georgic
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Delphic
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Cymric
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Afric
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Medic (1)
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Murdoch 2nd Officer. |
Oceanic (2)
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Persic
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Runic (2)
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Murdoch 2nd Officer |
Suevic
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Celtic (2)
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Athenic
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Corinthic
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Ionic (2)
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Cedric
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Victorian
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Armenian
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Arabic (2)
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Romanic
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Cretic
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Republic (2)
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Canopic
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Cufic (2)
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Baltic (2)
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Tropic (2)
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Gallic
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Adriatic (2)
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Murdoch First Officer |
Laurentic
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Megantic
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Zeeland
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Nomadic (2)
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Traffic (2)
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Olympic
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Belgic (3)
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Zealandic
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Titanic
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This website has been prepared with detailed assistance from Ernie Robinson, the maritime historian, and Samuel Scott Murdoch, the nephew of the First Officer of the 'Titanic'.
In Memoriam
Monument to William McMaster Murdoch on Dalbeattie Town Hall
The MURDOCH MEMORIAL PRIZE is competed for annually at Dalbeattie High School.
This page has been prepared because of that Memorial.
Enquiries about William McMaster Murdoch for Mr. S.S. Murdoch or Mr. E. Robinson can be forwarded by e-mail through :-
Site under Development - Please Come Again
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Dalbeattie Domain website is designed and managed for pleasure and profit by
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Murdoch site started 23rd January 1998,
last updated 16th February 1998.
No charge was made for the W.M.Murdoch website.
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