William Antrobus Griesbach

Major-General the Honourable William Antrobus Griesbach, CB, CMG, DSO & Bar, VD

William Antrobus Griesbach was born on 3 January 1878 at Fort Qu’Appelle, in what was then the North-West Territories. The son of Arthur Henry Griesbach, an officer of the North-West Mounted Police, he grew up in the rough-edged world of western Canada at a time when Edmonton was still becoming a city. Educated at St. John’s College in Winnipeg, he returned west as a young man and entered the law, building the professional and public career that would make him one of Edmonton’s best-known early citizens.

Griesbach’s first military service came in the South African War. In 1899 he enlisted in the Canadian Mounted Rifles and served in the campaign against the Boers. He was later awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four bars, an early sign of the soldierly determination that would define much of his life. After returning to Canada in 1901, he opened his own law office in Edmonton and quickly became active in civic affairs.

His rise in public life was remarkably swift. He was elected to Edmonton Town Council and, in 1906, became mayor of Edmonton at only twenty-eight years of age. At the same time, he remained deeply involved in the Canadian militia. Commissioned in the 19th Alberta Dragoons, he became one of western Canada’s prominent citizen-soldiers: a lawyer and politician in civilian life, but a trained officer ready for service when war came.

When the First World War broke out, Griesbach helped raise and command the 49th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, one of Edmonton’s most famous fighting units. The battalion went overseas and served on the Western Front, where Canadian troops endured some of the hardest fighting of the war. Griesbach proved himself an able and energetic commander. In 1917 he was promoted to temporary brigadier-general and given command of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division.

During the war, Griesbach earned high distinction. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and later received a Bar to that decoration, marking a second award. He was also appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and Companion of the Order of the Bath. These honours reflected both personal gallantry and sustained leadership under the brutal conditions of modern war. By the end of the conflict, he stood among Canada’s distinguished senior officers.

After the war, Griesbach continued his service to Canada in public life. He was elected to the House of Commons as the member for Edmonton West in 1917 and, in 1921, was appointed to the Senate, where he served until his death. He was also promoted major-general and later served as Honorary Colonel of the 19th Alberta Dragoons, maintaining his connection to the regiment and to the military community of Alberta.

During the Second World War, despite being well past the age of active field command, Griesbach returned once again to military service. He was appointed Inspector-General of the Canadian Army for Western Canada and served in that role until retiring in 1943. His career had now touched three wars: the South African War, the First World War, and the Second World War.

William Antrobus Griesbach died in Edmonton on 21 January 1945. He left behind a legacy that joined military service, civic leadership, and national public duty. A lawyer, mayor, parliamentarian, senator, soldier, and major-general, he represented the best tradition of the Canadian citizen-soldier. His name lives on in Edmonton through the former CFB Griesbach, the Griesbach neighbourhood, and memorials honouring his service.