Canada. A Memorial Group to the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve

Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; and ERII Memorial Cross (A-6099 L/SMN. W.M. GRIFFIN). Naming is officially engraved on the MC, the others are un-named. Un-mounted, original ribbons, extremely fine. Accompanied by the cardboard boxes of issue for the medals, the case of issue for the Cross and the issue envelope for the CVSM clasp, along with copies of his Attestation Papers, Service Records, Discharge Certificate and Department of Veterans Affairs Death Notification. Footnote: William Michael Griffin was born on May 14, 1908 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the son of James Griffin and Mary Magdelene Griffin. His education level indicates that he had completed Grade Nine but had dropped out of Grade Ten. In his civilian life, he had farmed for fourteen years on his father's farm (1922-1936), spent two years as a beef cutter at Swifts Packers, was a salesman for two years and had studied accounting for ten months before joining the Army. He was a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba when he enlisted as a Private (H.36752), signing his Attestation Paper with the Canadian Active Service Force on October 15, 1940, at No. 10 District Depot, Infantry Section in Winnipeg, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mrs. Kathleen Mary Griffin, stating that his trade was that of Bookkeeper and Clerk and had been a Bookkeeper at a summer camp in Minaki, Ontario just before enlistment. After initial training, he was attached on general clerical duties and in charge as Post Office Angler, to the Canadian Provost Corps at Camp "R", then to Camp "X" attached to the Veterans Guard of Canada on January 14, 1941. Private Griffin later found himself attached to the Canadian Postal Corps at Base Post Office in Ottawa on October 13, 1941, employed as a sorter and general postal clerk until August 16, 1942. He was admitted to Rideau Military Hospital on February 3, 1942, treated for ten days, then discharged on the 13th, although his records do not indicate the nature of the illness. He was grant permission to marry and took Kathleen Griffin as his wife on May 30, 1942, taking up residence in Ottawa. Griffin was transferred on August 20th to the Corps of Military Staff Clerks and employed as a clerk in the records office, working on Part 11 orders, in addition to qualifying as a Group C Tradesman (Specialist Clerk). He was described by one officer as a "man of high quality", along with being "thoroughly co-operative and alert but inclined to be a little high strung". The officer went on to state, "While he has shown definite qualities of leadership and initiative his age and stability are not felt to be such as would make a good officer in a combatant unit." Griffin was awarded his first Good Conduct Badge on October 16, 1942 and authorized to wear the Trained Soldier Badge on August 20, 1943. He was discharged from the force on enlistment as an Able Seaman (Postal) (A6099) into the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, signing his Attestation Paper on December 8, 1943 and stationed at HMCS Carleton in Ottawa. He was transferred to land depot HMCS Stadacona, and was later shown on the books of depot ship HMCS Niobe but was in fact, he was serving in England on postal duties until August 11, 1945, thereby accruing fourteen months overseas service. He saw a promotion to Leading Seaman on December 15, 1944. Upon return to Canada, he was posted to land depot HMCS Peregrine, then transferred to HMCS Chippawa on December 25, 1945 in Winnipeg. While in the Navy, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease and was discharged as "Medically Unfit" on December 27, 1945, the disease causing his "weak health". He was credited with having served at sea or overseas for fourteen months, with a total service of sixty-two months, having served in Canada and Great Britain. After his discharge, he returned to his wife in Winnipeg, wishing to seek employment with the Post Office there. Griffin died from Hodgkins Disease, which he contracted while on active service, on May 21, 1965, at Deer Lodge Hospital in St. James, Manitoba, at the age of 57.