William Goldie was born in Greenock, Scotland on February 24, 1892. At the time of his enlistment in July of 1915, William was living Grande Prairie; his homestead was located at 4-74-4-W6. While on his way to North Bay with his regiment in spring of 1916, William left the train and the army assumed he had deserted.
However, in June the true story was discovered. William had been attempting to pass from one coach to another when he slipped from the step and fell into a lake. He managed to swim ashore, but there was no shelter available and because of his exposure to the elements, he developed frostbite. Both his feet had to be amputated at Haileybury Hospital in Ontario. William was in a hospital in Toronto because of the ulceration of the stump of his right foot when the army located him in June. By that time he had been “supplied with artificial apparatus which is satisfactory.” In September of 1917, William was discharged from the army. He never made it to the front lines and for a time was considered a deserter, yet he bore the scars of the war for the rest of his life.
