James Thomson (lieutenant colonel)

James Thomson (8 September 1853 - 3 November 1911) was a commander in charge of the Southern Military District in New Zealand, the co-founder of the oldest pipe band in the Southern Hemisphere, an Invercargill Borough councillor and a newspaper publisher.
==Early life==
Thomson was born in Girvan near Glasgow in Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of Ellinora (Ellen) Bickerstaff and Samuel Thomson. He emigrated to New Zealand with his family in February 1864 on the ship Sevilla.. The family settled in Invercargill. A brother, Samuel, was a cordial manufacturer in Invercargill with W. B. Mitchell and later with Thomson's Ltd.
==Military career==
Thomson joined the Volunteer Force in Invercargill as a drummer (military). in 1864 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1875, major commanding the Southland District Volunteers in 1880,. and lieutenant colonel in 1887. He was in charge of the Southland Military District for about ten years until 1889, when he handed command over to Major Feldwick. Thomson was district adjutant under Major McCrorie and Captain Heywood from 1875 to 1880. He was respected as "a strict disciplinarian and a fine type of soldier". After retiring from military service on 7 November 1894, he founded the Southland Veterans and Ex-Volunteers Association and became its president.
==Promotion of Scottish activities==
In addition to his military career, Thomson was a founder (with Lieutenant Kenneth Cameron) of the Caledonian Pipe Band of Southland (now called the City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band) and its president from 1896 to 1911,. a director and president of the Southland Caledonian Society, chieftain of the Southland Highland Society and president of the Dominion Brass Band. It was said that as "a loyal Scot his heart was in everything that pertained to the characteristics and customs of his native land"..
==Borough councillor and publisher==
Thomson held a seat on the Invercargill Borough Council for about eight years. From his youth, he worked in the printing business, firstly with the Southland Times Co. from 1869, and was for many years the publisher and printer for the Southland News. until 1903. Before his death, Thomson was a partner in the printing firm of McConechy, Thomson and Co.
==Personal life==
Thomson married Sarah Ann Matthews, who was the daughter of Captain Joseph Matthews of the 91st Foot Regiment, on 12 September 1874. They had eight children - six boys and two girls. Sarah Ann died on 15 March 1897 aged 39. Both daughters pre-deceased Thomson and one daughter, Ethel Ellen, was accidently killed aged three years and five months on 12 October 1886.
==Death and funeral==
Thomson died at his residence in Invercargill aged 58. He had been unwell for a number of weeks "but the fatal termination of his illness was totally unexpected".
Thomson's remains were interred at the Eastern Cemetery with full military honours. Earlier, the funeral procession featured the Mayor and other city councillors, and members of the Southland Caledonian Society and the Southland Highland Society. It was one of the largest seen in Invercargill for many years and all along the route crowds of citizens had assembled. The military parade of 202 participants included 17 pipers of the Southland Pipe Band under Pipe-Major Wilson and 24 bandsmen of the Dominion Band under Bandmaster W. Siddall. The coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was carried on a gun carriage which was fully horsed. On the coffin rested Thomson's helmet and his Caledonian regalia. During the march to the cemetery, the Regimental Band played the "Dead March" in "Saul" and Beethoven's "Marche Funebre", and the Pipe Band played "MacIntosh's Lament".
Category:1853 births
Category:1911 deaths
Category:People from Girvan