William Ira Giffin was born in Halifax, NS, on February 8, 1916, the second child and eldest son of Edgar Ethelbert and Maud Isabel (Weatherdon) Giffin. Edgar was the son of Captain Ira P. Giffin, Isaac’s Harbour, and his wife, Abigail Coumans Pride, was a native of Port Medway, NS. Edgar’s grandfather, Simon Giffin, was born in Shelburne, NS, in 1794 and later settled at Isaac’s Harbour. Simon and his wife Thursa Langley raised a family of 13 children—eight sons and five daughters—leaving numerous descendants in the Isaac’s Harbour area.
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| Sergeant William Ira Giffin |
Edgar Giffin spent his formative years in the small Guysborough community before heading to the United States in his early 20s. At the time of the 1900 US census, he was living in Somerville, MA, with Fred Barnaby, and his wife Althea, a sister to his mother. The document states that Edgar had arrived in the US the previous year and was employed as a carpenter at the time.
At some point during the following decade, Edgar returned to Nova Scotia. Canadian militia records indicate that he served for 12 days with the 63rd Regiment, Halifax Rifles, during 1907. On May 8, 1909, Edgar married Maud Isabel Weatherdon, daughter of William and Annie (Snow) Weatherdon, in a Baptist ceremony that took place in Halifax. Born in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Maud had arrived in Nova Scotia with her parents in 1895.
Following his marriage, its appears that Edgar returned to the United States—perhaps periodically—for employment. The 1913 city directory for Worcester, MA, lists Edgar as a carpenter, living at 92 Piedmont St. His brother, Otho L., also resided in the city. Later that year, Edgar and Maud’s first child, Nina Edna, was born in Halifax on December 5, 1913.
From that year forward, it appears that Edgar did not return to the US for several years. By 1921, the Giffin’s Halifax household consisted of Nina Edna, age seven, William Ira, age five, Fred Cyril, age one year, and Myrtle Marguerite, age one month. A fifth child, Bernard Edgar “Bert,” arrived in early 1923. Later that year, Edgar Sr. returned to the United States for the first time since 1913, crossing the border on June 19.
US immigration records indicate that Edgar was once again destined for Worcester, MA, where his younger brother Otho still resided and he planned to work as a carpenter. Six weeks later, Maud and her five children crossed the border on their way to Worcester. The family, it seemed, had decided to relocate to Massachusetts.
Before years’ end, unexpected tragedy struck the household. On December 31, 1923, Edgar passed away at Worcester, the result of broncho-pneumonia. Maud was pregnant with the couple’s sixth child at the time of her husband’s death. She gave birth to her fourth son, Otho Lebaron, on May 7, 1924. Maud and her children eventually returned to Halifax, where she married James Leavey Day, a native of Jeddore, Halifax County, on September 22, 1927.
Seven years old at the time of his father’s sudden passing, William Ira Giffin spent the remainder of his childhood years in Halifax. His military service file mentions civilian employment as a “clerk” and “salesman” for Coca-Cola Ltd. Like his father, William volunteered for militia service, joining the ranks of the Halifax Rifles on October 23, 1931. The experience may have piqued William’s interest in a military career. On November 4, 1935, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) at Halifax. William listed his mother, Mrs. J. L. (Maud) Day, 46 Gottingen St., as his next of kin.
Following the First World war, the Royal Canadian Regiment became one of five military units that constituted Canada’s “permanent force establishment.” The unit maintained several detachments in various locations across Canada, one of which was Wellington Barracks, Halifax.
On the third anniversary of his enlistment—November 4, 1938—William “re-engaged” with the RCR. Within a year, events in Europe significantly impacted the course of his military career. Britain’s September 3, 1939 declaration of war on Nazi Germany prompted William to re-attest for active service with the RCR three days later. After the Canadian government’s September 10 declaration of war, the unit relocated to Camp Valcartier, QC, in preparation for its overseas departure. While encamped there, William was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on November 15, 1939.
One month after William’s promotion, the RCR departed for the United Kingdom. On December 30, 1939, William and his companions disembarked at Gourock, Scotland, and made their way by train to Camp Aldershot shortly afterward. Three days after arriving in the UK, William was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay.
As there was no active combat at the time of the RCR’s overseas arrival, personnel focused on training throughout the early months of 1940. The situation on the continent changed dramatically on May 10, 1940, when German forces launched an invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. While British, Dutch, Belgian and French units valiantly resisted, German forces advanced rapidly through the “Low Countries,” resulting in the surrender of Dutch and Belgian forces before month’s end.
While British and French soldiers trapped in Belgium and northern France were hastily evacuated from Dunkirk in late May and June, German forces continued their advance toward the Channel ports and the French capital of Paris. French resistance prompted the British to order the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade, stationed in southern England, across the English Channel in support of their efforts.
On June 13, 1940, the first wave of Canadian soldiers—an “advance guard”—landed in Brest, France. That same day, the Royal Canadian Regiment departed Plymouth, UK and disembarked in Brest on June 14. While advance units moved inland by train toward Le Mans, French resistance to the north crumbled as German units rapidly advanced southward. When German troops entered Paris on June 17, the French government requested an armistice.
In response, British authorities ordered the Canadian 1st Infantry Brigade’s immediate withdrawal. Two days before the French armistice request, the RCR’s soldiers boarded vessels at Brest, and disembarked at Plymouth, UK, as German soldiers entered the French capital. While the Brigade left behind most of its vehicles, its artillery units managed to evacuate their guns, despite a general order from authorities to abandon all equipment.
The RCR’s return to Aldershot marked the beginning of a lengthy period of training and home defence assignments. British authorities were well aware of the possibility of a German invasion and Canadian units would prove valuable if such an event occurred. In the meantime, in early July 1940, German forces commenced the “Battle of Britain,” an aerial bombardment campaign that lasted almost four months.
While the German Luftwaffe initially focused on shipping convoys and coastal radar installations, its attention shifted to airfields and radar stations in mid-August. Before month’s end, attacks expanded to include bombing raids on towns and cities across England’s south coast, Midlands and northeast regions. Air raids continued until the end of October, when Germany reluctantly admitted its failure to establish air superiority over Britain and ended the Luftwaffe’s attacks.
Over the ensuing months, William continued his advance through the non-commissioned ranks. On May 1, 1941, he was promoted to Acting Lance Sergeant. During the summer of 1941, he completed a mortar training course. On November 1, William advanced to the rank of Acting Sergeant. Later that month, he completed a second mortar training course.
On February 2, 1942, William was confirmed in the rank of Sergeant. Later that month, he was attached to the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade’s No. 1 LAD [Light Aid Detachment] for a “camouflage course.” Over the next three months, he received nine-day and seven-day leaves before settling in for another summer of training.
William’s training was interrupted on August 10, 1942, when he was admitted to No. 4 Field Ambulance for unspecified reasons and immediately transferred to No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station. Four days later, he was admitted to No. 14 General Hospital, where he remained for six weeks. In late September, William was assigned to No. 1 NETD [Non-Effective Transit Depot]. Throughout this time, he remained in hospital with a classification of Category “E”—unfit for service, awaiting discharge. His service file contains no explanation for his overseas hospitalization
On October 2, 1942, William departed for Canada and was admitted to hospital at Halifax upon arriving home. A Medical Board evaluation, dated December 7, 1942, officially placed him in Category “E” and noted that “accordingly [he] is under consideration for discharge.” William was officially released from military service on January 12, 1943. A comment on his discharge papers described his character as “exemplary.”
William remained under medical care throughout the months following his discharge. On a date not specified in his service file, he was transferred to Christie St., Hospital, Toronto, ON, where he passed away on October 6, 1943. Only after William’s death did his service file identify the nature of his illness.
Documents describe the cause of death as “myocarditis [inflammation of the heart muscle], degenerative with failure. Infarction [blockage in blood flow to the heart muscle]. Death was due to service.” Sergeant William Ira Giffin’s remains were transported to Nova Scotia, where he was laid to rest in Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax.
William was survived by his mother, maternal grandmother, and all five of his siblings. At the time of his death, Nina Edna (Mrs. Arthur Hatt) was living in Beech Hill, Lunenburg County, while Myrtle Marguerite (Mrs. Harold Jackson) resided in Spryfield and Frederick Cyril “Fred” was living on Creighton St., Halifax. William’s two remaining brothers were both in uniform—Otho LeBaron was stationed at Camp Debert, while Bernard Edgar “Bert” was serving overseas with the Canadian Army.
William’s mother Maud passed away at Halifax on January 22, 1952, at age 62, the result of heart disease. His maternal grandmother, Annie Weatherdon, died at Beech Hill, Lunenburg County, on June 17, 1957, at 93 years of age. Both Maud and Annie were interred in Camp Hill Cemetery, Halifax.
