Lieutenant William Richard Haigh MC, is also named on the Granville War Memorial and is commemorated in two stained-glass windows in St Mark’s Anglican Church, Granville. An image of one of these windows is shown below. Haigh’s father was a Granville doctor and a benefactor to St Mark’s.
Haigh, 26, a town clerk, had attended Granville Public School and Sydney Boys High. He was commissioned on enlistment in February 1916 and embarked on the Star of England in March, along with at least five other ‘Auburn boys’.
Haigh was awarded a Military Cross for bravery in the field during his nearly three years in the AIF. He was wounded and taken back to England three times, the last time with severe gassing injuries. He died of influenza in the 3rd London General Hospital on 26 November 1918 and he is buried in Brookwood, the largest military cemetery in Britain. Brookwood contains 352 Australians and 148 New Zealanders from the First World War.
Lt William Richard Haigh should not be confused with Auburn Memorial man Lt George Haig.
