Bird, William Richard

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_R._Bird
  • Wiki Biography:
    • He was born on May 11, 1891, in East Mapleton, to Augusta Bird, an educator, and Stephen Bird. A few years later his mother was left a widow with two stepsons and three sons as his father died of pneumonia. 
    • He served in France and Belgium at the front for two years with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF). His time in the war impacted his life as a writer as his war experiences were constantly a part of his stories. One of his finest works, And We Go On (1930) documents his time in France. Another book, Ghosts Have Warm Hands recounts his experiences during the war and his emotional connection to his brother, Stephen, who was killed in action before Bird was allowed to volunteer for service.
    • In 1931, he was sent back to the battlefields of France by Maclean’s Magazine to write a series called “Thirteen Years After”. The series became a lecture tour and a book, published by MacLean’s in 1931 and over the following five years was given to Canadian Legion branches throughout the Maritimes.
    • In 1933, he began work at the Nova Scotia Tourist Bureau, moving to Halifax in 1938, and he worked as chairman of the Historic Sites and Monuments Advisory Council, remaining there until his retirement in 1966.
    • When Canada went to war again in 1939, Bird lost his only son, Captain Stephen Stanley Bird, of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. This caused him to enter a long period of writing, creating many stories that showed his grief.
  • Second Great Grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=5900
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167945728/william_richard-bird