More about William Greir

For reasons unknown William is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour.

William Greir   5639   Royal Scots Greys

A BRAVE DUNDONIAN DIES OF WOUNDS.

Intimation was on Saturday received by Sergeant J. Greir of the4th Black Watch, Dundee, that his brother, Trooper William Greir 1st Life Guards, died at Ypres on 30th October of wounds received in action.

Trooper Greir was born and brought up in Dundee ; served his apprenticeship with H. and A. Scott, Ltd., Tayfield Works as a clerk, and later received an appointment with a Liverpool firm.

He went through the whole of the South African campaign, coming out unscathed.  Deceased was despatched to the Continent with the first Expeditionary Force.

An incident which demonstrates Greir’s commendable bravery is recorded by a comrade.  During his flight from a body of Uhlans who had fired on his patrol party, he observed a heap of bodies and among them a wounded British soldier vainly striving to emerge.  He assisted the man, bandaged his wounds whilst under a perfect fusillade of fire, and carried him on his horse to the banks of the Meuse, where he was identified as the Hon. Hugo Denison, a son of Lord Londesborough.

In recognition of his bravery, Trooper Greir was attached to the A squadron of the 1st Life Guards, one of the crack corps in the army.

Deceased, who was 38 years of age, leaves a widow and two of a family.

Dundee Courier 18th January 1915