Major Harold Wigmore McGill (21 December 1879 – 3 July 1961) a Canadian physician and provincial politician from Alberta. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the Council of the Northwest Territories.
His sister, Frances Gertrude McGill, the provincial bacteriologist and pathologist in Saskatchewan. Another sister, Nursing Sister Margaret H. McGill served with No.2 Canadian General Hospital.
Early Life of Harold Wigmore McGill
Harold Wigmore McGill born 21 December 1879 in Norwood, Ontario. Father Edward McGill, whose family had emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1819, and mother Henrietta Wigmore, also of Irish descent. Henrietta a former school teacher, and had once circumnavigated the globe, travelling to New Zealand for a teaching job and later returning to Canada. Finally, Edward active in local politics and agricultural societies, and worked as the postmaster in Minnedosa.
Harold had an older brother, Herbert, and two younger sisters named Frances and Margaret. Margaret became a nurse and joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps. In mid-1900, his parents became ill with typhoid fever after drinking contaminated water at a county fair, but both died in September within ten days of each other. McGill’s eldest brother, Herbert, took over the running of the family farm until his younger siblings had completed their basic schooling. Later, McGill graduated from medical school at the University of Manitoba in 1905. He served as the physician for the Tsuut’ina Nation after he came to Calgary in 1910. Finally, in 1917 he married Kansas-born, Ontario-raised Emma Mildred Griffis (1884–1971).
Attestation
Harold Wigmore McGill enlisted with the 31st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914 and later attached to No.5 Canadian Field Ambulance Corps in 1917. When Harold went overseas to fight in the Great War, his future wife Nursing Sister Emma Mildred Griffis moved to England to serve as a nurse. Emma served with No.9 Stationary Hospital, Bramshott, and No.12 Canadian General Hospital at Shorncliffe. Harold attested 15 November 1914 at Calgary as a Lieutenant with the 31st Battalion, at this time standing 5′ 8″ tall, 175 pounds, with dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair, with a scar over inner right valleolus.
Immediately, Harold Wigmore McGill appointed Captain and Medical Officer, 31st Battalion, 17 November 1914. McGill’s unit sailed from Canada on 17 May 1915.
31st Battalion
Organized in November 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Bell. Mobilized at Calgary and recruited in Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, Youngstown, Claresholm and Pincher Creek. Embarked from Quebec 17 May 1915 aboard CARPATHIA, and later disembarked England 28 May 1915 with a strength of 37 officers, and 1122 other ranks. Arrived in France 18 September 1915, with the 2nd Canadian Division, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and reinforced by the 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Colours deposited in the Church of the Redeemer, Calgary in 1919, and perpetuated by The North Alberta Regiment and The South Alberta Regiment.
France
Captain Harold Wigmore McGill entered the Western Front on 15 September 1915 with the 31st Battalion. Taken on strength CAMC on arrival in France, and attached to the 31st Battalion, immediately, Captain McGill made a strong impact on his unit.
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
For actions during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Harold Wigmore McGill awarded the Military Cross on 25 November 1916, London Gazette No.29837 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He tended and dressed the wounded under very heavy fire with great courage and determination on 15-16 September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.
Finally, Captain Harold Wigmore McGill MC granted ten days leave, 7 July 1917.
No.5 Canadian Field Ambulance
Organized in November 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. D. Farmer. Mobilized at Toronto and Hamilton, and recruited in Military District No. 2. Secondly, left Halifax 18 April 1915 aboard NORTHLAND, and later arrived in England on 29 April 1915 with a strength of 11 officers, 248 other ranks. Arrived in France 16 September 1915 with the 2nd Canadian Division, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade until 16 August 1915, and 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade thereafter.
Private Alec Lewis
Private Alex James Lewis 126744, 5th Canadian Field Ambulance, giving aid to a Canadian soldier whose upper arm broken by a piece of shrapnel during the advance east of Arras.
September 1917
Captain Harold Wigmore McGill ceases to be attached to 31st Battalion on posting to No.5 Canadian Field Ambulance, 2 October 1917. Earlier, Captain Harold Wigmore McGill MC had arrived at No.5 Canadian Field Ambulance on 22 September 1917.
McGill proceeded on leave, 15 December 1917, returning 25 December 1917. The McGill’s married in December 1917 during this leave.
Captain Wigmore to be Acting/Major authority London Gazette No.30513, 7 February 1918. In addition, to be Temporary Major authority London Gazette No.30652, and 30647, 5 March 1918.
Battle of Amiens
Major Harold Wigmore McGill proceeded on 14 days leave to England, 1 September 1918, rejoining from leave 15 September 1918.
Battle of the Scarpe
Private Frank Laflin
During the night of the 26th August Captain Hart’s party made its headquarters in an old German dressing station just west of the
captured village of Guemappe. In this station we found several dead and wounded Huns.
The first day of the scrap had passed with only one bearer, Frank Laflin, being killed and without any of our men being wounded.
During the night of 12 October 1918, No. 5 CFA relieved by an Ambulance unit of the 51st Imperial Division. Major McGill now in command.
March to the Rhine
On 12 November 1918, orders received to be ready for the March to the Rhine. The Hun given a six-day start and to maintain that interval between our troops and his. The next two days spent in packing up and getting ready for the move.
At 9.30 a.m., Friday, November 15th, No. 5 CFA pulled out of Denain on a 250-mile march to the Rhine. Here a brief summary of the marches and other activities during the ensuing days.
Quievrechain, Friday, November 15th
Left Denain at 9.30 a. m. Arrived at Valenciennes about noon. Reached Quievrechain (Pop. 3,555) late in the afternoon. Weather fair.
The townspeople informed us chat the Germans had operated a munitions plane there and chat our aviators had repeatedly bombed the place – killing over seven hundred civilians but doing little damage to the munition factory.
Framieres, Saturday, November 16th
Left Quievrechain at 10.30 a.m. Crossed Belgian frontier and continued on to Frameries (Pop. 12,000), southeast of Mons. Greeted and acclaimed by the inhabitants all along the route. Improvised flags and bunting strung from tree to tree and hung from house windows everywhere.
Frameries, Sunday, November 17th
Resting at Frameries. Civilians continued co treat us very hospitably. Clothing and kit inspections held. Orders received to turn in one-third of all equipment. We arrived at our destination in the evening and billets in a convent hospital-school. No rations received during the day.
Houdeng-Aimeries, Monday, November 18th
Marched off at noon to Houdeng-Aimeries. Passed through Mons, where the citizens gave us a very cordial welcome.
Houdeng-Aimeries, Tuesday, November 19th
At Houdeng-Aimeries (Pop. 8,000). The men had no breakfast. The Commanding Officer refused to hear their complaints and ordered the whole unit “confined to barracks.” A parade was called for 9 a.m. Not one man paraded. The Mother Superior of the convent again ordered hot soup served to our men, and they felt considerably embarrassed depriving the local civilians of food which the long-suffering townsfolk themselves so obviously needed.
Private Alex Samuel, No. 536215, who had not been well for the previous few days, died at No. CCS. Now buried at Auberchicourt British Cemetery.
Houdeng-Aimeries, Wednesday, November 20th
Up to noon no rations for the men, so the mutiny continued. There was now a sort of fifty-fifty arrangement – no food for the men – no parades, drills or duties for the Commanding Officer. Finally, shortly past noon, the colonel consented to listen
to the men’s complaints. A delegation of two men from each Section paraded to the Commanding Officer and he heard plenty.
Rations obtained during the afternoon, and chat night the men had their first decent meal in three days – and, no doubt,
the colonel had his first decent sleep in three nights.
Gouy-lez-Piéton, Thursday, November 21st
After an excellent breakfast the unit moved off at 9.30 a.m . We arrived at Gouy-lez-Pieton (Pop. 4,000) about 2.30 p.m . The men billeted in private homes. The quarter-stores and headquarters details found quarters in the local schoolhouse. Here we experienced considerable difficulty getting our men into the townspeople’s homes. The civilians seemed in deadly fear of us. Eventually we learned that the Germans had told these poor folk that Canadians were savage Red Indians who would scalp, cut off ears and commit other unmentionable atrocities.
Gouy-lez-Piéton, Friday, November 22nd
Resting at Gouy -lez-Pieton. No parades except morning roll call. Many of the men spent the day hunting for pommes de terre frittes, les oeufs, etc.
Gouy-lez-Piéton, Saturday, November 23rd
At Gouy-lez-Pieton. Morning parade only. Tommy Dalton and George Graves awarded Military Medals. Nice weather.
St. Amand, Saturday, November 24th
When we finally left Gouy-lez-Piéton they gave us a great send-off and there was scarcely a dry eye among them when they said goodbye. Moved off at 10 a.m. to St. Amand (Pop. 1,500) a poor wretched little village straddling the Charleroi-Louvain railway line. The men billeted overnight in barns. Rations again became scarce. During this day’s march we passed a corner where a sign read “to Quatre Bras,” and we thought of Napoleon and Waterloo.
Other Canadian troops had passed through before us so the people knew we were all right. St. Amand, too, had suffered very cruelly. Many of its inhabitants had been killed by German shell-fire and gas. The survivors hated the Hun with a ferocity almost beyond description.
Isnes, Monday, November 25th
Off at 9.30 a.m. to lsnes (Pop. 750), a poverty-stricken little farm village scrambled along four muddy crossroads. About twelve kilometres northwest of Namur. Billeted in farmhouses and barns – some of us in the school-house. All along the route (twenty kilometres) we saw dozens of dead German horses and much abandoned war material, such as lorries, limbers, barbed wire and ammunition. Every horse bore traces of having been butchered for food.
Isnes, Tuesday, November 26th
At lsnes. “Resting.” The men’s marching of the previous day had displeased the Commanding Officer, so given some disciplinary drills and parades.
Isnes, Wednesday, November 27th
At Isnes. Still “resting” – on drills, parades and kit cleaning. The people of the village friendly enough, but their extreme poverty and misery made them appear almost bovine mentally. The only time we saw any of them break through their mental fog was when Andy Patterson opened a Christmas parcel he had received from Canada.
Pat gave the old man some cigars and tabac, and the old lady and daughter some cake and candy. It had been four yea rs since these poor unfortunates last saw anything like this, and they promptly broke down and sobbed as they clutched the little gifts to their breasts.
Nameche, Thursday, November 28th
Moved off early in the morning, during a heavy downpour of rain. Reached Namur about noon and had mid-day meal from unit soup-kitchen on one of Namur’s business streets. During the morning the Fifth rejoined the Fifth Brigade. After lunch we marched on to Nameche (Pop. 1,450) a quaint little village on the River Meuse. Shortly after starting out we passed through a village named Beez, and in Nameche our men came upon booze – which very few passed!
The civilians throughout this district very friendly. Right in the heart of Walloonese Belgium at this time – in the Namur -Liege district where Fritz stubbed his toe so badly in 1914.
Havelange, Friday, November 29th
Marched off early to Havelange (Pop. 1,640). The first part of the route lay parallel with the Meuse and was over roads which were inches deep with slippery mud. The 22nd Battalion marched immediately in front of us throughout the day and we saw a Canadian staff car full of General officers whizz by and spatter mud over the tramping infantrymen.
Petit-Han, Saturday, November 30th
Marched off at 11.30 a.m. to Petit Han. Captains Graham, Kirby and Wark cook thirty men of our Nursing Sections to help a casualty clearing station. The unit still headed southeast and now passing through a beautiful hilly country. Our reception on this day not very cordial. The “natives” impressed us as being rather pro-German.
La Fosse, Sunday, December 1st
Reveille at 5.30 a.m. Moved off at 7.30 a.m. Joined the Fourth Brigade at Barveaux. Heavy frost during the previous night and a pouring rain during the day made the roads very slippery. Now among the Ardennes hills.
Reached our destination, La Fosse (Fosses-la-Ville), shortly before 5 p.m., but darkness had already set in. Rations very scarce. Billets good – particularly those of the Motor Transport Section, in a fine old hunting lodge at the top of a hill.
La Fosse, Monday, December 2nd
At La Fosse. Rained heavily all day and thick fog hung over hills and valleys. Men received an issue of rum! They spent the day indoors, cleaning equipment for the entry into Germany, and listening to stories about atrocities at La Fosse during the first few days of the German occupation. Shown a place near the river’s edge where many La Fosse folk had been ruthlessly shot down by the Huns in 1914.
La Fosse, Tuesday, December 3rd
At La Fosse. Cleaning equipment, shining buttons and preparing generally to impress the Germans with British army “efficiency.”
Honvelez, Wednesday, December 4th
Up early and away, through a heavy driving rain and ankle-deep mud, to Honvelez. Heavy mists blotted out the scenery. One hill we climbed was said to be over two thousand feet above sea-level. Now only six kilometres from the German frontier. Day’s march, thirty-one kilometres.
Germany
Thommen, Thursday, December 5th
A bright clear day. Left Honvelez at 9.30 a.m. Crossed German frontier, at Beho, a small village about four’” miles n’orth ()If the Duchy of Luxemburg, shortly be fore noon. Here we had our first glimpse of Hunland. At the few peasants who stared sullenly from roadsides and fields we glared disdainfully and proudly, as befitted soldiers of a victorious army. The demeanor of the poorer Germans seemed to betoken more despair and fear than resentment.
At 2.30 p.m. we arrived at Thommen, where we stopped overnight – and where many of the lads cook on a fresh supply of lice. Our billets simply ran with vermin. The townspeople kept discreetly out of our sight. Day’s march, fifteen kilometres.
Manderfeld, Friday, December 6th
We set out at 8 a.m. in a mist thicker than a quartermaster’s breach. Too, the customary rain, so the roads continued very muddy and slippery. Now in an exceedingly hilly country, and had changed direction, travelling sharply northeast. One hill, in particular, gave horses and men a very trying time. This hill was almost two kilometres long and seemed to go almost straight up. Again it was a case of man-handling wagons and ambulances.
Here, once more, was evidence of the disordered German retreat. Dozens of dead horses lay strewn along the roadside, along with abandoned war material. These horses, too, bore signs of having had their most edible portions hastily removed. The townspeople very “cold” cowards us but the Catholic Sisters could not have been more kind and considerate.
Schmidtheim, Saturday, December 7th
Up at 6 and away at 8 a.m. through low-hanging clouds and mist. Whenever the surrounding country was momentarily visible the scenery was exceptionally beautiful. Now marching through the famous Stadtkill (Stadtkyll) valley.
Here the men billeted in private homes, and the officers in a grand chateau. Quartermaster Scores took over the local school. The people here genuinely Prussian in appearance and bearing. For the most part civil enough, but it was plainly evident that our presence was much resented.
In this town hundreds of discharged German soldiers and these men well-behaved, respectful and friendly. Now
in the district to which wealthy Germans came for their hunting.
Schmidtheim, Sunday, December 8th
At Schmidtheim, resting. On this day one of the local Huns failed to pay proper respect to the colors of one of our Fifth Brigade battalions. The whole populace rounded up and the man made to apologize publicly for the affront. This was one instance when German people shown who won the war.
Munstereifel, Monday, December 9th
Moved off at 8.30 a.m . Rained heavily all day. Because of the extremely heavy going the men’s kits carried by lorry. Arrived at Munstereifel, the largest German town we had been in up to this time. It was a very picturesque place, nestling between two large hills and with a mediaeval wall around it. The men comfortably billeted in a girls’ school, using the dormitories for sleeping quarters and eating their meals in the large dining-room.
That night Harry Hutchinson, Stan Dumont and a few other Motor Transport lads found themselves a billet in a sort of farm-
estaminet, which was presided over by a big, fat, thick-necked German. During the evening Harry and his pals noticed the German paying considerable attention to a steaming boiler on the stove so, as soon as the houseowner had gone to bed, the boiler’s contents were investigated and found to be excellent sausages. Harry and the boys continued sampling the sausages till there was none left.
lpplendorf, Tuesday, December 10th
Marched to lpplendorf. Set out at 9 a.m. A fine clear day. Shortly after starting we climbed a particularly steep hill that tried our endurance to the utmost. It was long after dark when we arrived at our destination. The men had very good billets in private homes and found the people more friendly. Most of the households had lost menfolk during the war, so the townspeople were very bitter in their attitude toward the Fatherland’s leaders and upper classes.
The Rhine
Godesburg, Wednesday, December 11th
Moved off at 9 a.m. to Godesburg, a beautiful city right on the edge of the Rhine. Here the men were quartered in the Rhine Hotel, situated on a promontory of the river bank. The hotel proprietor plainly not in harmony with his compulsory guests but he was obliged to make the best of things as we overran his establishment, mingling with his many wealthy Prussian guests and helping ourselves to whatever we needed. Many of the hotel towels, serviettes and pillow-slips accompanied us when we eventually took leave of the hotel.
Godesburg a very interesting city. It had a population of about fifteen thousand and possessed the ruins of a castle that was at one time considered the outstanding example of eleventh-century fortress architecture.
Godesburg, Thursday, December 12th
“Resting” at Godesburg. Continued to rain heavily. Everybody stayed indoors, shining equipment for the march across the Rhine the following day.
Here, too, the lads had their first real chance to talk over their experiences on the long march to the Rhine. One conclusion nearly everybody arrived at was that Sergeant-Major Olaf Olsen Wilson MSM or “Joey,” as the boys called him, one who had most thoroughly enjoyed the long tramp. Whenever a proud Prussian civvy neglected to doff his hat while our unit marched by, Joey was off his horse like a shot, and the disrespectful Hun’s headgear ripped from his head and trampled into the mud.
Then Joey would plant the heavy toe of his boot in the middle of Fritz’s backside and show him in no uncertain manner that
there was a certain a mount of deference and respect due the first-class warrant officers of a conquering army. And, somehow,
or other, Joey’s meagre sixty-one inches of height didn’t prove the least handicap when he tackled six-foot offenders. Joey’s aim
was deadly.
Bonn, Friday, December 13th
In a drenching rain our unit moved off at 11.30 a.m. and marched to Bonn. Here, wearing steel helmets (straps on point of chins), and without packs, greatcoats or raincoats, we crossed the Bonn bridge. General Currie stood at a saluting base near the eastern end of the bridge, where we gave him “Eyes Right’ ‘ – and felt very sorry for him standing there in the rain.
We continued on to Putzchen, a village of about forty residences, two tiny school-houses, a church and an asylum. Here the men,
soaked to their skins, slept on the bare floors of the schoolhouses – in spite of Foch’s definite instructions that the men of the
Army of Occupation were to have good beds.
Some of the fellows complained at the time – and informed that the billeting officer just couldn’t bear to put the men into the local private residences. He felt that “it wouldn’t be right to put ordinary soldiers into such fine homes as those!”
Army of Occupation
Putzchen, December 14th to 17th
We remained at Putzchen, with nothing to do except drill, physical training, and fatigues; and attempted to dry our clothes. Meanwhile, we failed to understand why the homes of the villagers were too good for us.
Meanwhile, Sir Arthur Currie enjoyed the bed of Princess Victoria at the Palace in Bonn. The Princess had declined an invitation to remain in the palace.
Vilich and Geislar, December 18th to 31st
Moved forward to the twin villages of Vilich and Geislar, with headquarters at the latter place. In Vilich the men billeted in private homes. An inter-communal beer hall about halfway between the two villages served as mess-room for the whole unit. A short
distance up the river was Cologne, while downstream lay Coblenz, headquarters of the American Army of Occupation. Either city could be reached by boats and trolley cars.
The men, for the most part, left to their own devices and, before long, the remote attitude of the German people showed
signs of relaxing. When, eventually, the unit left for Belgium, enroute home, the people turned out in crowds co see us off; and
there was many a tear visible on the cheeks of matrons and maids alike.
![1918-12-13 3522444 O-3892 PA-003799 G.O.C. and H.Q. Staff, 2nd Canadian Division, passing the Saluting Base [on the Bridge over the Rhine at Bonn] December 13, 1918](https://i0.wp.com/cefrg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/3522444-a003799-v8.jpg?resize=1000%2C715&ssl=1)
Cologne
Cologne, of course, the largest city in our area but, excepting the famous cathedral, there was little in the city to
attract our men. Bonn, though, proved rather fascinating to most of us on account of its being a famous university city, the birth-
place of Beethoven, and the scene of some of Marlborough’s greatest exploits. The Bonn bridge, too, was considered the most
beautiful of all the Rhine bridges. And, by the way, our march across this bridge on the 13th of December was regarded as of more historical significance than our crossing of the German frontier.
New Year’s Day 1919
New Year’s Day came and went without anything particular happening, except that some of our troops expressed their sense
of humor by decorating the famous statue of William the First, which stood in the Kaiser-Platz at Bonn. When the proud
burghers came out for their morning promenade in the Platz they were horrified to find their beloved Wilhelm wearing a bedroom
pot instead of his customary picklehaub, and with a manure covered stable broom in his right hand, instead of a sword.
The escapade had one regrettable result, however. From that day on, a twenty-four-hour guard of Canadian infantrymen posted over the statue – to show the sackers of Louvain that our generals didn’t approve of insults to the statues of dead Huns!
On January 22nd orders arrived for us to move back into Belgium on the following day. None of us was sorry.
At 3 p.m., January 23rd, the Fifth packed up and marched to Siegburg, where it entrained and travelled until eight o’clock the
next night. The distance travelled was comparatively short, but the weather was cold, the trains filthy, and th e accommodation
decidedly unsatisfactory. At eight o’clock the men detrained and climbed aboard busses and rode all night. Just as day was breaking they arrived at Auvelais, a mining town of about ten thousand population, situated on the River Sambre and about halfway between Charleroi and Namur .
Auvelais
In Auvelais several survivors of the Dinant and Tamines massacres related first-hand evidence of what they had been through.
Six hundred and thirteen citizens herded together in the local Grand Place at Tamines, with their backs to the Sambre River. Machine guns mowed them down like so much grain. One hundred and thirty two escaped by feigning death or jumping into the Sambre and swimming to freedom.
We stayed in Auvelais for a little over two months and, in spite of our longing to get home, the stay was rather pleasant. Finally, on April 2nd, we marched to the station and entrained for the Base. All Auvelais and many wet-eyed girls from several nearby hamlets were at the station to see us off. It was about two hours before the train pulled out and during that time nearly every man kissed his girl friends goodbye a dozen times at least.
Soccer Team
The last soccer competition in France held at Auvelais in the Spring of 1919.
The soccer team managed by a committee of non-players: Arthur Rigby, Archie Rich, George Graves, Ben Sharpe, Sid Hill, Ben Sharpe, Jimmy Walker and Jim Lickley.
Players: Jimmy Jock McLean, William ‘Bill’ Crompton, Harry Thurston, Billy Moore, Bridges, Nobby Clark, Saunders, Stan Thompson, Billy Tribe (trainer), Johnny Hay, McKerror, Bryant, Jimmy Shorrocks, Arthur Wood, Harry Jock Simpson.
Officers: Major Burgess and Captain Sinclair.
Demobilization
Major Harold Wigmore McGill granted 14 days leave to Nice, 12 January 1919, later, returning from leave 2 February 1919.
Presentation of Colours to 31st (Alberta) Battalion, Namur Cathedral Square, 6 April 1919. MIKAN No. 3522701 
Presentation of Colours to 31st Battalion, Namur Cathedral Square, 6 April 1919. MIKAN No. 3522685 
31st Battalion, Namur Cathedral Square, 6 April 1919. MIKAN No. 3522688 
Presentation of Colours to 31st Battalion, Namur Cathedral Square, 6 April 1919. MIKAN No. 3522699 
Presentation of Colours to 31st Battalion, Namur Cathedral Square, 6 April 1919. MIKAN No. 3522687
Major Harold Wigmore McGill proceeded to England, 7 April 1919.
Sadly, Harold’s wife Emma had a miscarriage prior to sailing with her husband to Canada aboard SS OLYMPIC. Major McGill struck off strength CEF in Canada after arriving on SS OLYMPIC per General Demobilization, 27 May 1919.
Post Great War
The McGills arrived back in Calgary in early June 1919, and Harold took up his old job as physician to the Sarcee (Tsuu T’ina) reserve on the edge of the city. Emma soon pregnant with their first child, Kathleen, shortly followed by their second daughter, Doris. McGill was elected Alderman on Calgary City Council in the 1926 Calgary municipal election, a post he held until 1930.
McGill elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the Conservative Party in the 1930 Alberta general election. Later, he ended up elected to the 6th seat in the Calgary electoral district, in the 10th vote count. McGill served in the Legislature for just over two years before vacating his seat.
Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs
In the 1930s the family moved to Ottawa where Harold later appointed Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs (1932-10-13 – 1936), and his appointment took effect and he vacated his seat in the Alberta Legislature on 14 October 1932. The post also entitled him to a seat in the Northwest Territories government. He was appointed to the 2nd Council of the Northwest Territories and served as a member until 1947.
Finally, the McGill’s retired to British Columbia in 1945. Harold Wigmore McGill died in 1961 and Emma in 1971. Previously, the McGill’s had two daughters, Kathleen (Odell) and Doris (McNab), who treasured their parents’ war correspondence and donated the letters to the Glenbow Archives between 1976 and 1979.
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[…] brother Major Harold Wigmore McGill MC served with the 31st Battalion and later with No.5 Canadian Field Ambulance. In addition, […]