Sergeant William Withers

William Withers was born on January 5th, 1916 in Scotland to Jane and Charlie Withers and the family immigrated to Acton, Ontario in 1917. In his teens, Bill moved to Wingham, Ontario to work for the glove shop, he also played hockey, a game he loved, for a Wingham team.

While in Wingham, Bill met and married his wife Irene Mellor, eventually giving up his motorcycle to buy a family vehicle. Bill and Irene moved back to Acton, soon followed by Irene’s parents, and Bill began to work at Hellers in the glove shop. His work life eventually included Smith & Stone in Georgetown and custodial work at Robert Little School. Bill and Irene lived in an upstairs apartment at 68 Main St. South (the property purchased by Irene’s parents) until they found a property that they wanted at 186 McDonald St.

Bill signed up for the Army along with many from Acton. He was assigned as a dental assistant to a dentist at an Army Base in England, eventually earning the rank of Sergeant. His belief that he should do whatever he asked his men to do, made him a well-respected officer. As Bill and the dentist identified bodies, they discovered that many had previously sat in their dental chair.

Bill felt an ardent loyalty to the brave heroes who flew bombers, fought on the front lines and braved the raging sea. Some of those brave men sacrificed all to defend our freedoms.

William, the Withers family hero, died in November 1995, two months shy of his 80th birthday and is buried at Fairview Cemetery, Acton.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His Story lives on. Submitted to Homes of Heroes Halton Hills by Jane French