Canadian soldiers were sent into the area. He served in France for twenty months as second-in-command of the 28th Battalion. He received command of the 31st Alberta Battalion in 1917, and led this battalion at the Battle of Passchendale. McPherson was twice decorated for his war service. He returned to Manitoba after the war to take his seat in the legislature, and served as a backbench supporter of Tobias Norris's government. The Liberals were reduced to a minority government in the 1920 provincial election. McPherson was re-elected in Lakeside, defeating Conservative E. Herbert Muir by 23 votes. On January 20, 1921, he was appointed to Norris's cabinet as Minister of Public Works. During this period of Canadian history, newly appointed ministers were required to resign their seats and seek the renewed consent of their electorate to assume office. The resulting by-elections were often formalities, as many ministers were unopposed following their appointments. McPherson, however, was forced to contest another challenge from Muir, who was now campaigning as a Farmer's candidate. McPherson won by 156 votes, and continued to serve in cabinet. In the 1922 provincial election, McPherson left the Lakeside constituency to challenge Conservative party leader Fawcett Taylor in Portage la Prairie. Taylor won the challenge in a close contest, defeating McPherson by 129 votes. The Liberals were defeated provincially by the United Farmers of Manitoba, and McPherson resigned from cabinet with the rest of the Norris ministry on August 8, 1922. Last years/death He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in April 1946. McPherson died there in 1970. References 1877 births 1970 deaths Manitoba Liberal Party MLAs Members of the Executive Council of Manitoba Date of death missing