"W.S. Murdoch made Colonel at 31 years" William Scott Murdoch promoted to Lt Col and given command of an infantry battalion [Royal Rifles of Canada in Canada in a home defence role as part of the Vancouver Defences of Pacific Command]. Murdoch went overseas with the Seaforths as the adjutant in 1939. He had served in the Spitzbergen (Spitsbergen), Norway Expedition and at Kiska, Alaska. He also served as the Brigade Major for the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigades of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. Note: Allied soldiers were stationed on the island in 1941 to prevent Nazi Germany from occupying the islands. Norway came under German occupation in 1940. The majority of inhabitants on the island were Russian, and the Soviet Union had a non-aggression pact with Germany until 22 June 1941. The United Kingdom and Canada sent military forces to the island to destroy installations, mainly Soviet coal mines, and prevent the Germans from occupying it. Major MURDOCH,W.S. OBE,MiD, Officer of the Order of Orange·Nassau (With Swords). He served in the Seaforths from 2 September 1939 to 8 December 1944 when he was promoted and transfered to the General Staff as a Lt.Col. Lieutenant-Colonel Murdoch assumed the appointment of General Staff Officer Grade I at Headquarters 1 Canadian Infantry Division at a most critical time in Italy [9 December 1944]. In his award of the Order of Orange·Nassau (With Swords), Murdoch was on the General Staff when the 1st Canadian Division assaulted westward across the Ijssel River on 11 April 1945, the object of the attack was to drive the enemy from Holland and thus enable food supplies to be shipped to the hunger stricken people in western Holland. He later served as the Commanding Officer of the Ipperwash Army Cadet Camp from 1964-1966. This officer served in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, Non-Permanent Active Militia from 1933 to 1 September 1939 when he was appointed to the Canadian Army (Active). Biography and clipping attached to Media.