Thomas Templeton Murray (20 November 1891 – 28 July 1966) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Murray was born in

Largs Largs ( gd, An Leargaidh Ghallda) is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town mark ...

, Scotland, in 1891, and he received his education in his home country. He came to New Zealand in . During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

he served in the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

and was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

and

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...

for his actions. After the conclusion of World War I he took up a soldier resettlement farm in

Huiroa Huiroa is a settlement in inland Taranaki, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres east of Stratford and eight kilometres north of Douglas. It is situated on the Stratford–Okahukura Line The Stratford– ...

. His farm performed well and he was able to use profits to purchase a second farm in

Toko Toko is a small rural settlement 10 kilometres east of Stratford, New Zealand, at the intersection of East Road ( State Highway 43) and Toko Road. It is located on a railway, the Stratford–Okahukura Line, the western portion of which was ope ...

in 1928. He was involved in community affairs as a

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

, Stratford Borough Councillor, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board and Licensing Authority as well as president of

Federated Farmers Federated Farmers of New Zealand is a lobby and advocacy group for all farmers: arable including fruit and vegetables, dairy and meat and their often remote communities. It has a network of 24 regional organisations and six industry groups. Fed ...

. He supported the establishment of the National Party and founded the Stratford electoral division of the National Party, also being electorate chairman from 1936 to 1939. In 1939 he rejoined the army and served in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. By the close of the war he had reached the rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

. He represented the Stratford electorate from

1954 Events January * January 1 – The Soviet Union ceases to demand war reparations from West Germany. * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown-IBM experiment: The fir ...

, and he retired in

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...

. David Thomson succeeded him in Stratford. Murray died on 28 July 1966, and he was buried at Kopuatama Cemetery, Stratford.

Notes

References

* * , - 1891 births 1966 deaths People from Largs Scottish emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand military personnel of World War I New Zealand recipients of the Military Cross New Zealand recipients of the Military Medal 20th-century New Zealand farmers New Zealand justices of the peace Local politicians in New Zealand 20th-century New Zealand politicians New Zealand military personnel of World War II New Zealand National Party MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates Burials at Kopuatama Cemetery {{NewZealand-mil-bio-stub