Born in Chatham, 13 May, 1920, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Angus of 335 Wellington St., Chatham, ON. William attended Central School, and then Chatham Collegiate Institute, and went on to St. Andrew’s College in Aurora.  Prior to the start of the war, William was on the staff of the Dominion Bank. He was married to Margo (McKenzie) who with their daughter, Marion, were living with her parents; Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth McKenzie of Toronto.

Upon the start of the war, he enlisted in the Kent Regiment as a private in July of 1940. In March of 1942, he was was promoted to the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant, serving with the Kent Regt. at Niagara-on-the-Lake. He was on a weekend leave to attend the wedding of Lieut Stuart McKeough in Chatham. CDN 6/03/42. William remained with the regiment until September of 1942, at which time he was a full Lieutenant as a platoon commander.

In September 1942 he transferred to the 30th. Recce. Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps in September of 1942. Still with 30^th Recce. He was reported to have made it home for Christmas, spending his leave at his parents home with his wife. He would return to his unit after the completion of his visit. CDN 24/12/42 He was stationed at Carling Heights, London, ON. as Captain June 1943.

He went overseas with the 30^th Recces in the summer of 1943, when the 30^th was broken up in England. The CDN 9/06/43 reported that he was Adjutant of the 30^th Reconnaissance Regt. and Camp Borden. He was on leave. He was accompanied to Chatham by Mrs. Angus who was residing in Toronto with her parents. Capt. Angus along with Capt. Hanley went overseas together in September of 1943.  

 

He arrived in England and was appointed as Liaison Officer and later a Staff Captain in the Canadian Armoured Corps. He resigned from the staff to go on Active Service and was sent to Italy as a reinforcement Officer with the 48th. Highlanders. He was awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry in action. 

Now Captain Angus was reported to have been appointed to the General Staff of the Canadian Army overseas as Liaison Officer, Staff Learner and finally Staff Captain. CDN 4/03/44

During the battle of the Lamone River in December of 1944 he was then the 2^nd in command of a company. It was reported in the CDN 23/03/45 that Captain W. G. Angus had been awarded the Military Cross.

The Citation – Military Cross 

“On the night of December 10-11 the 48^th Highlanders of Canada made an assault crossing of the Lamome river. The river has dykes some 30 feet high, sloping to the water at approximately 45 degrees; and with the enemy solidly dug in along the top of the dyke, and in the field behind presented a formidable obstacle.

“A – Company was leading company in the assault, and Captain Angus commanded the leading platoon. The moment his platoon appeared over the bank with their assault boats, a withering fire was brought down on them from machine gun posts at point blank range across the river. Rallying his men, this officer quickly had the boats launched and on their way across. He was among the first to land and personally led the platoon storming up the 30 foot dyke into the thick of the enemy positions. So inspiring was his leadership and so determined the assault that the platoon had very soon accomplished its initial task, which was to clear the enemy for a length of 300 yards. In doing this, nine enemy machine gun posts were routed thus freeing the crossing point of aimed small arms fire for the remainder of the battalion.   

“leaving a part of his platoon to hold the area, Captain Angus then immediately organized a fighting patrol to seek out and destroy further enemy. With complete disregard for his own safety he struck into an area known to be mined; he soon found the enemy, who resisted vigorously with small arms fire, rifle and hand grenades. In spite of this opposition, and in the lead throughout, this gallant and determined officer charged and captured three further enemy positions, each a section in strength, personally killing three Germans.

Throughout this action, Captain Angus displayed a most inspiring courage and a matchless initiative and determination. His action, over and above the terms of his orders, in exploiting into enemy territory ensured the successful crossing and subsequent exploitation of the remainder of the battalion. His aggressive spirit resulted in the capture by himself and his platoon of 48 of the enemy in this operation, and the killing of s number of others.     

The 48^th was transferred from Italy to Belgium, Holland and finally into Germany in the early months of 1945 as officer commanding D- Company of that regiment. When the war ended the 48^th was back in Holland. Captain Angus was reported to be returning from overseas duty aboard the S.S. Nieu Amsterdam. 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Awards	Military Cross
Sources	IODE(P), KCFA, CS-RH, CDN (26/09/45, 30/12/45)

Birthplace	Chatham, Ontario
Religion	Presbyterian
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	August 1940
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Biette Angus

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