Private William Moody Strachan

Private, 24th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Military Medal
Date of award: 1918-10-04
Source: London Gazette 30940

Background & Military Career

William Moody Strachan was raised in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents, Robert and Clara, emigrated to Canada when he was thirteeen years old in 1904, along with his twin brother Alfred and four other siblings. The family settled in Toronto, Ontario, where William ("Bill") worked as a tinsmith.

William Strachan was transferred to the 39th Infantry Battalion on October 10, 1915, arriving in England on February 3, 1916. Two days later, he was transferred to the 22nd Battalion and sent to the field. Strachan was transferred again, this time to the 24th Battalion, on March 3, 1916. It was noted in his Medical Records that:

"This man was hit by a sandbag, caused by an explosion of a shell, while on duty in the trenches on Aug. 19th. He broke his collar bone while washing his face on Aug. 28th. This may possibly have been as a result of the previous blow. He was not to blame."

Strachan was admitted two days later, on August 31, to No. 10 Stationary Hospital in St. Omer, France with a fractured left clavicle. He was subsequently transferred to No. 9 Red Cross Hospital in Calais on September 5, then on September 8, to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester, England and discharged two months later, on November 20, spending an additional month of rehabilitation at Epsom. Strachan was promoted to Lance Corporal, without pay, while attending map reading classes with the 23rd Reserve Battalion. He reverted to the rank of Private on September 2, 1917. He was transferred again to the 24th Battalion on December 12, 1917.

Strachan was in battle, possibly at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant, on September 3, 1918, when he suffered a gunshot wound to his spine, that left him "seriously ill". He died of his wounds four days later, on September 7, 1918, at the age of 27, at No. 47 General Hospital in Le Treport, France. His obituary appeared in the Toronto Star, September 16, 1918. Strachan was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.