GREIG, William Donald
NAME John William Acheson GREIG
RANK Captain REGIMENT Royal Canaian Army Medical Corps Residence Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Born December 24, 1903 - Seaforth - Township of Tuckersmith/McKillop - County of Huron - Ontario Died April 6, 1943 39 years 3 months
Cemetery Brookwood Military Cenotaph - Surrey - England 34 D 8
Wife Mrs. Margaret Greig of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia and Port Colborne, Ontario Mother Mrs. Minnie Greig of Seaforth, Ontario
William would have received all his education in Seaforth and attended Seaforth High School and receiving his high school education. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He then attended the University of Toronto from 1922-30. When he enlisted he was a member of the Canadian Medical Association, the British Medical Association and the Nova Scotia Medical Society. He had been a physician and a surgeon for the last 10 years before enlistment. He enjoyed swimming, golf, tennis and hockey.
Canada
At the time of his enlistment he was on the reserve list of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. William enlisted on June 30, 1941.On that date he was posted to the Halifax Military Hospital with the rank of Lieutenant. He stood 5' 11" and he weighed 184 pounds. He had a medium complexion with blue eyes and black hair. On July 10 he Proceeds on Command to the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp Training Centre. He then ceases to be attached to the Veterans Guard of Canada on August 8 and a week later on August 15 he is Struck of Service of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp Training Centre in Ottawa after the completion of his course and posted to Military District No. 6 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On October 1, he received the rank of Captain and the same day Proceeds on command to ST Stephen, New Brunswick and returns to Halifax 2 days later. From February 28-April 10, 1942 he is attached to the New Brunswick Rangers. On April 16 he is Taken on Service with the Shelburne Military Hospital in Shelburne, Nova Scotia where he remains until mid September and at this time he is attached to No. 6 Company of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and on September 20 he is posted to No. 6 District Depot in preparation for going overseas.
Overseas
On September 29 Captain Greig is Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and embarks from Canada for overseas. The next day while at sea he is Taken on Service with the Canadian Army Overseas and on October 7 he disembarks in the United Kingdom. He then is admitted to No. 8 Canadian General Hospital for a week. On October 31 he is posted to the Headquarters of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and he remains here into early November. Early in January of 1943 he is admitted to No. 15 Canadian General Hospital and is discharged on January 10. He is admitted to the Canadian Neurological Hospital located at Winslade - Southampton - England. Then on April 6, 1943, Captain Greig passes away from Schizophrenia and psychosis after shooting himself in the chest.
William was awarded to Defence Medal, The War Medal plus the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp. Both his wife and his mother received the Memorial Cross.
He is honoured and remembered on the Seaforth Cenotaph as well as on the Memorial Plaque of First Presbyterian Church. His name can be found on the Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Cenotaph as well as on the Bridgewater War Memorial Plaque. He is also remembered on the Memorial Plaque of the University of Toronto. He is honoured and remembered on the family grave at the Seaforth Maitlandbank Cemetery.
