Person Record

Metadata

Name

Telford, Murray

Othernames

Major Murray Telford
Murray McCallum Telford

Born

1919

Birthplace

Hamilton, Ontario

Places of residence

Owen Sound, Grey County
Overseas during the Second World War
Grimsby, Ontario
Brampton
Owen Sound

Titles & honors

B.S.A.
CD

Father

John MacDonald Telford (b. 1879-d. 1960)

Mother

Lillias Isabella Jane Telford (nee Gardn

Nationality

Canadian

Education

Ryerson Public School (Owen Sound)
O.S.C.V.I.
Ontario Agricultural College (Guelph), left there in 1941, returned after the war and graduated with a B.S.A. in 1947.

Notes

Murray McCallum Telford was born in Hamilton in 1919. His parents were originally from Grey County, and in 1927, they moved their family to Owen Sound. An Old Home Week Badge from that year that he wore is now in the Grey Roots Collection.

He attended Ryerson Public School and the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Murray Telford was an officer in the Canadian Armoured Corps during the Second World War. He served with a Hussars (his last rank was Captain). His wife was Dorothy Telford (nee Dorothy A. Vincent) and they were married on June 27, 1942. Dorothy wanted to go overseas to serve as well, but instead served with the Canadian Red Cross in Toronto. The Red Cross hat badge that she wore during the war is now at Grey Roots Museum. After the war, the Telfords moved to Owen Sound, Grey County. They also resided at Grimsby for a while, but returned eventually to Owen Sound.

In 1961, Murray was the Ontario Sales Manager for Chipman Chemicals Limited.

When he wrote his book SCARLET TO GREEN, the last page provided a brief biography for him, and an image of him: "A native of Owen Sound, Murray Telford attended public and high schools there. He left the Ontario Agricultural College in 1941 and became an instructional officer at No. 10 Basic Training Centre in Kitchener. In early 1942, he transferred to the Canadian Armoured Corps and after training at Brockville and Camp Borden, he went to England as a reinforcement officer. He joined the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, the reconnaissance regiment of the 3rd Canadian Division, and served with this unit in England and Northwest Europe.
Returning to Guelph after the war, he graduated with a B.S.A. degree in 1947. In the 1950s, he rejoined the militia with the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) at Brampton. During a business career in the chemical industry, he lived in various locations in Ontario and Quebec. His is now retired and with his wife, Dorothy, resides in the old family home in Owen Sound.
Major Telford has always had a keen interest in local history and is currently President of the Owen Sound Historical Society and archivist for the Marine-Rail Museum, located in the city. He is also a member of the Grey County Historical Society and the Officers Association of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters." (1987)

Murray was very proud of his Telford family heritage. He was a descendent of William Pattison Telford (1797-1879) & Elizabeth Telford (nee Murray), formerly of Scotland, who emigrated in 1840 (or 1842), temporarily settled in Galt, and moved to Sydenham Township in 1848. He also studied local regimental history. His book, and wrote the book FROM SCARLET TO GREEN, that illustrates the insignia and history and uniforms of the militia and W.W.#1 and W.W.#2, to show the past history of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters. Murray's grandfather, Lt-Colonel James P. Telford, was a long-serving militia officer with the 31st Grey Battalion (for 38 years), which was a 19th-century precursor unit of the Grey & Simcoe Foresters.

Murray prepared a book about his marriage and family life, and a copy is in the Grey County Archives. It has various images of them both, including the war years.

His obituary mentioned that he was a veteran who had served in the D-Day campaign.

Occupation

Veteran / Second World War Canadian Armoured Corps officer 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (3rd Canadian Division), was at D-Day
Chipman Chemicals Limited (Ontario Sales Manager for them)
Entomologist
Writer
Military historian
Geneaologist

Publications

Telford, Major Murray M., FROM SCARLET TO GREEN: THE COLOURS, UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF THE GREY AND SIMCOE FORESTERS, 1987.
Telford, Murray M., booklet, "From Roxburghshire to Grey County: A Telford Family History, 1981.
Teford, Murray M., "Murray & Dorothy Telford: Their Life & Times" (a copy is in the Grey County Archives)

Relationships

Sister: Elizabeth Isabelle Telford (Isabelle / Isabel Telford), d. 2007
Brother: William James (Bill) Telford
Nephew?: William John Pattison Telford (usually known as John Telford)
Father-in-law: Victor Lawrence Vincent
Grandfather: Col. James P. Telford
Great-grandfather: William Pattison Telford (1797-1879)
Owen Sound Historical Society Member & President
Grey County Historical Society
Branch 6 Royal Canadian Legion?
Officers Association of the Grey & Simcoe Foresters