 Murdoch served in the 1st Pioneer Battalion, Australian Imperial Force in France and Flanders, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).On 25 April 1905 at Elsternwick, Melbourne, he married Kathleen Tiernan; they had two daughters and three sons, who included Major General Ian Murdoch and Air Marshal Sir Alister Murdoch.Predeceased by his wife and a daughter, Murdoch died at Geelong on 13 July 1961 and was buried in Geelong western cemetery with Presbyterian forms.