No soldier photo found.
Rank Captain
Resident Chatham

The youngest child and only son of David Smith and Agnes Paterson, brother of Jessie Devina and Mary Irene. Murrays father was a teacher at the Chatham Collegiate Intitute. Murray mother passed away soon after his birth and his father remarried Martha Rispin of Chatham in July 1893.

Murray graduated from the Chatham Collegiate before attending the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine (Trinty College). He graduated from medical school in 1914 and practiced in Chatham before joining the R.A.M.C. soon after the outbreak of war. It is unkown how long he served in the Imperial Army before he enlisted in the CEF with the C.A.M.C.  on 14/06/1917 with the rank of Captain.

Given the information on his attestation papers of 14/06/1917 where he reports serving 1 yeare as a Lieutenant and one year as a Captain in the RAMC, he would have enlisted in 1915. According to the Toronto Evening Telegram of 18/09/17 he had been wounded in July of 1916 during the Battle of the Somme which began 1/07/1916.

Captain Paterson was invested with his Military Cross at Windsor Castle on 8/09/1916. He had been wounded according to the Chatham Daily Planet of 12/09/1916 “Some time ago Mr. and Mrs. Paterson received word that there son had been wounded and that he had contracted septic poisoning.  It is understood that he sustained his injuries while carrying wounded men under fire of the enemy and it believed this incident was noticed by the commanding officers who recommended him for the decoration of bravery on this occasion.”

The citation of this was Gazzetted as follows:

“Captain Peterson went twice in daylight to No Man’s Land and brought in wounded. He remained when the battalion was relieved, and did not leave his post till it was cleared of wounded. He did fine work.”

CDP 24/07/1916 Reported Killed in Action. CDP 17/09/17 Writing from the Savoy Hotel, London, England, Sunday April 2nd 1916, George Thomas McKeough writing to Capt. Stewart McKeough reports tha he was having, “supper in the Savoy where we met Murray Paterson over on his second leave.” “McKeough Letters” at pg. 342. Toronto Evening Telegram  18/09/17, Toronto Star 18/09/17. 1914-1918 Memorial tablet, Bloor Street Presbyterian Church, 300 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario, now Bloor St. United Church.

Captain Paterson was killed in a railway accident in September of 1917 not as reported KIA. Toronto Evening Telegram and Toronto Star of 18/09/1917.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Awards MC
Sources Chatham Daily Planet (17-09-1917), Commonwealth War Grave Commission, Chatham Daily Planet (22-04-1918), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7646 – 51, Anne Fraser-CK Physicians Tribute
Supplemental Information Age: 26. DOAI, Date of Death: 15/09/1917 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 17. Cemetery: BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Birthplace 16/11/1891

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