CRAIG, William Joseph
NAME CRAIG William Joseph Jr. RANK Leading Aircraftsman 68235 2nd Tactical Air Force - 85 Group - 141 Wing UNIT RCAF 410 Salvage “keepers of the peace”
Gilze-Rijen in the district of Noord - Netherlands Residence Goderich - Ontario Birth July 18, 1916 - Goderich - Ontario Died May 6, 1945 28 years 9 months
Cemetery: Celle War Cemetery - Celle - Niedersachsen - Germany
I D 2 Parents: Mr. William and Sarah Jane Craig of Goderich. William was born on July 18, 1916. He lived at 60 Bruce Street. He attended Goderich Central School from 1923-30. He attended high school at Goderich Collegiate Institute 1930-32. Following his education he worked for his father William as an auto mechanic from 1932-40. He enjoyed being involved in field events and playing hockey. The family would have attended St Georges Anglican Church.
In Canada
On May 20, 1940 he travelled to London to enlist into the Royal Canadian Air Force. We believe he went home to Goderich and on August 8th was accepted into the Royal Canadian Air Force. His height 5' 8" in height, his weight was 147 pounds, he had a fair complexion, he had brown eyes and black hair. He was recommended for Aero Engine Mechanic "C" Group. One day later he is on his way to No. 2 Manning Depot based in Brandon - Manitoba. Here he will learn to bathe, to shave, to polish his uniform buttons, to shine his boots and maintain his uniform. During the afternoon hours there is 2 hours of physical education, marching drill, rifle drill, foot drill and saluting. His next posting send him back east on September 18th to No. 1 Technical Training School in St. Thomas - Ontario. He would be here for six months and trained as an aero engine mechanic. During the first five months of 1941 while at Technical Training School. On May 17 he was given the rank of Aero Engine Mechanic "C" Group. For his next posting he learned on May 21st was going to No. 3 Service Flying Training School based in Calgary. On June 6th he made a short trip to No. 15 Service Flying Training School in Claresholm - Alberta. While here he was given the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. During 1941, he was AWOL two times and the first time he was sentenced to 168 hours of detention and the second time he was sentenced to 3 days in barracks. His file indicates that he was At No. 15 Service Flying Training School for all of 1942 and 1943. During the third week of December 1943 he was posted to Halifax at the "Y" Depot in preparation for embarkation from Canada. During 1943 three charges were brought against him. (1st) he threatened and was insubordinate to a superior officer while being taken to the guardhouse. He was sentenced to 168 hours of detention. (2) neglecting to obey station standing while at No. 15 Service Flying Training School for possession of beer. (3) he is charged for holding another individuals "EE" card. In addition, he was AWOL on another occasion and was confined to barracks for 7 days. There was another incident when he neglected to obey orders and proceeded to take beer out of Airmen's Canteen and then received 21 days detention.
In England
From Halifax he went to New York City either by rail or sea. He embarked from New York City on January 1, 1944 and arrived in the United Kingdom on January 11, 1944. Once he was in the UK he was posted to No. 3 Royal Canadian Air Force Personnel Reception Centre. His next posting was on January 27th to No. 410 Repair and Salvage Unit. These units had all technical trades, they carried out engine changes on aircraft that had forced landings, repair damaged aircraft and boost an aircraft squadron personnel situation. On June 4th it was on to Tangmere Airbase - Sussex to RAF Concentration in preparation for going overseas into the continent and then on to RAF Marshalling.
In the field
On June 13th No. 410 Repair and Salvage Unit embarked from the United Kingdom and arrived in France on June 14th. In October of 1944 he was drunk and causing a disturbance and forfeits 5 days pay. Gilze-Rijen was liberated in October of 1944. As the war ended they were based at Gilze-Rijen airfield in Netherlands located between Breda and Tilburg. This base was in the hands of the Germans all of the war until the Allies liberated the south of the Netherlands. At this time the RAF took over the base. The Commanding Officer of the Gilze-Rijen Air base received news on the 4th of May that the “ceasefire” would take place at 08:00 on May 5th. Personnel were told to refrain from celebrating the end of the war in advance. The medical report of LAC Craig states...."this airman is known to have been drinking large quantities of allegedly containing methylated spirits between May 3-4. He has been in a stupor for 24 hours and has been brought to sick quarters at 06:30 hours. At 07:15 am this patient died and there was no response to resuscitation measures". LAC Craig died after accidently drinking methyl alcohol. He was taken to 126 Wing hospital in Diepholz in Germany and then buried in the Celle Cemetery which was the cemetery of the 64th British Military
Hospital.
In December of 1945 William's mother Sarah received the Memorial Cross. William was awarded the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp and the family received these in March 1950. William is honoured and remembered on the Goderich - Ontario Cenotaph and on the Memorial Plaque at North Street United Church (Lakeshore United Church). He would also be honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of Goderich Collegiate. William is also honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.
