E. MURRAY THOMSON.
 



	E.Murray Thomson, known in Moose Jaw as one of the prominent
younger members of the local bar and a veteran of the Great war, with
a distinguished military record, is one of Saskatchewan's native sons,
for he was born on a farm six miles west of Moose Jaw, on the 29th of
March, 1888. His father and mother, R. K. Thomson and Susan E. (Hop-
kins) Thomson, were born and reared in Oxford county, Ontario, where
they were married. In 1882 they came out to Saskatchewan to take up a
homestead, on which they spent the most of their lives. The father died
in this city in 1912 and was survived for ten years by his wife, whose
death also occurred here. The maternal grandfather was of Irish birth
and active in Conservative politics in Canada, running for the Federal
House on his party's ticket, but was defeated in the contest. He came to
this province in the pioneer days when the journey had to be made west-
ward from Brandon in an ox-cart.  Mr. Thomson's paternal grandpar-
ents were Scotch. His father was a stanch Presbyterian and one of the
men instrumental in organizing St. Andrew's Presbyterian church of
Moose Jaw, of which he was the first elder. In fact, the first meeting to
see about organizing the congregation was held on his farm and his wife
was the second person admitted into its membership.  He was also a
prominent Mason and in Ontario was grand master of his lodge. Politi
cally he was a Liberal. E. Murray Thomson of this review is the young.
est of a family of four children. The oldest son, Benjamin H., owns the
old family homestead, on which he lives; Robert Grant, who is a farmer
located near Indian Head, was educated in the Agricultural College and
for ten years. from 1911 to 1921, edited the Farm Advocate; the only
sister, Annie E., is the wife of H. C. Bingham of Moose Jaw, a civil
engineer.
	E.Murray Thomson was educated in the Moose Jaw Collegiate Inst-
tute and the University of Toronto, from which he graduated in 1911 with
the B. A. degree. Thus equipped with an excellent educational foundation
for his special studies the young man began the reading of law in the
office of Caldwell & Dunn. In 1914 he went up for his examinations and
was called to the bar of Saskatchewan in due time, following which he
entered upon the practice of his profession in this city. The young bar-
rister was soon called upon to leave his personal career to devote his en-
ergies to the higher calling of patriotism and spent several years in the
Canadian military service during the Great war. Shortly after receiving
his honorable discharge from the army Mr. Thomson returned to the
world of legal affairs as a member of the firm of Torney, Thomson & Cor-
man, but in the fall of 1919 he severed his connection to go into practice
by himself. He now maintains offices in the Central Chambers. A gen-
erous share of the legal business transacted in this city has found its
way into Mr. Thomson's office and he now has an extensive and lucrative
practice. Moreover, he enjoys the respect and confidence of his colleagues
before the bar and stands well in his chosen profession.
	Entering the army on the 1st of February, 1915, as a member of the
Forty-sixth Battalion, Fourth Division, Canadian Expeditionary Forces,
pminent	Mr. Thomson went overseas in the following October and in the ensuing
three years of the terrible war he saw some of the hardest fighting on the
western front. He was engaged in the battles fought along the Somme
and was present at Vimy Ridge when that famous strategic position was
won at a terrific price.  The honor of being mentioned in despatches
was accorded him several times during the war and when he was dis-
charged on May 10, 1919, he was serving on General Embury's staff, with
the rank of major. Now he is lieutenant colonel in the militia, command-
ing the Twelfth Canadian Brigade, Machine Guns.  He has also been
active in the United Service Association and has held executive offices in
the local chapter.
	In politics Mr. Thomson is an ardent Liberal and at the last general
elections stood for election as local member of Moose Jaw, but was
defeated on a recount of the ballots. He has a large following, both in his
own party, in which he is an acknowledged leader, and among those inde-
pendent voters who consider the man rather than the party in casting
their votes. In his university days he played a prominent part in athletic
events, as a member of the team in two championship games of Rugby
and one of the intercollegiate champions in American lacrosse. This in-
terest in sports is still keen and he devotes much time to promoting good
athletics. He is the western representative on the Rugby Rules Commis-
sion, a governor of the C A. A. U. and a member of the boxing commis-
sion. Likewise he is a member of the executive committee of the Moose
Jaw Golf Club and, secretary and treasurer of the S. A. H. A. The Ki-
 wanis Club of Moose Jaw counts him as its representative of the legal
profession and he is vice president of the Old Timers Association. These
various connections indicate something of the breadth of Mr. Thomson's
interests, while the fact that he is almost invariably chosen by his associ
ates to fill some executive office in the organizations of which he is a mem-
her, bears witness to his qualifications as a leader, as well asb to his
popularity.
	In 1915 Mr. Thomson was married to Miss Lilian P. Scholes, who was
born and educated in Kingston, Ontario. They have become the parents
of three children: Robert K., who is attending school; and twins, Joan E.
and James S. Thomson. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson are members of St. An-
drew's Presbyterian church, and Mr. Thomson is one of the managers
of this church, with whose founding his father and mother were so closely
associated.


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