Reginald Winnett Digby

Rank:

Captain

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Cemetery:

Greenwood Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

Grace Anglican Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Brantford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

64 Wellington Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

64 Wellington Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Physician

Religious denominations:

Anglican

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX December 4, 1918

On the Front Line at the Finish – Capt. Dr. Reginald Digby Tells of Great Reception and of Hun Brutality

Captain Reginald Winnett Digby of this city was in the front line on November 11 when the last shot was fired. In an interesting letter to his mother he describes some of the scenes in the liberated villages and the joy of the people. His letter, in part, follows:

This has been a most interesting experience for all of us, and there is so much to write about, one hardly knows where to begin. I may as well begin at the end. It took one long time to get there, but I was with the infantry in the line when the last shot was fired. I went forward from the A.D.S., to locate a certain battalion. They were held up by machine-gun fire from the edge of a wood. A couple of light guns had been brought up, and they were letting the Boche machine guns have it for all they were worth. The major in charge of the advanced companies of our infantry was in the field directing operations, and I went forward and reported the location of the A.D.S. to him. I was with him at 11 a.m. when he gave the signal to cease fire.

I am awfully glad that I got into the line before the end of he war, for I seemed fated never to get there. I have been up the line for about 10 days or so, and this has been a picnic compared with the line in the old days. Our first aid is in the line, but only with the brigade in reserve, and they were not very close to the front. Three of us and some men were attached to an advanced first aid for the finish, and so were in it.

Talk about welcome, I wouldn’t have missed the advance through Belgium for all the English leave they could give me. The people sang and cheered and waved flags from all along the route. All the villages are covered with flags and bunting, and old people and young fell all over us. ‘Vive Les Canadiens.’ They swamped us with coffee and refreshments (they seem to have plenty of coffee and plain food), they threw their homes open to us, and they are so willing to take as many as the house will hold.

We are getting firsthand accounts of the brutal dispositions of the Germans. In this town 20 prisoners died in one day of starvation and beating. I saw a notice on a wall threatening severe punishment and imprisonment to anyone found guilty of giving food to prisoners. When the Germans had finished eating, our men were permitted to gather the potato peelings and boil them for soup. They were beaten and ill-treated at every turn, and often killed outright by their brute of a guard. These stories are told to us by the inhabitants, and I have no doubt they are true. They hated the German medicos, and some of them said they would prefer to die than to go near them. I have no doubt that some of them were brutes and others probably all right. These people surely do hate the Germans.

Your loving son,

Reg.

BX January 7, 1916

Dr. Digby, M.O. of 164th Battalion - Local Practitioner Has Received Appointment for Overseas

Dr. Reginald Winnett Digby, the well-known and popular physician of this city, following his recent appointment as medical officer of the 164th Battalion, left the city yesterday to join his regiment at Milton. Dr. Digby was a prominent golfer in the city and has a host of friends here who wish him every success in his new undertaking. he will remain with his regiment there until they leave for overseas.

BX October 16, 1962

Dr. R.W. Digby Dies – Practiced 50 Years

Dr. Reginald Winnett Digby, 73 a prominent Brantford physician and surgeon for the past 50 years died suddenly today at his home, 42 Wellington Street.

Dr. Digby was born in Brantford and served his entire professional career in this city.

Both his father, Dr. J.W. Digby, and his grandfather, also Dr. J.W. Digby, practiced medicine in Brantford before him. When Brantford was incorporated as a city in 1877, the grandfather was the first mayor.

Dr. Digby’s two sons are also doctors. They are Dr. James R. Digby of Brantford and Dr. John W. Digby of Toronto.

Also surviving are his wife, the former Elizabeth Margaret Bishop, five grandchildren and, and two sisters, Mrs. Gordon L. Lumsden and Mrs. John S. Lewis, both of Toronto.

Dr. Digby was educated at Trinity College School in Port Hope, and McGill University. He graduated with BA and MDCM degrees in 1912.

Dr. Digby joined the 164th Battalion CEF during the First World War and transferred to the 125th Battalion overseas.

He remained with the army of occupation in Germany until 1919 before returning to his practice here.

In later years he was medical officer of the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles.

He was a member of Ozias Masonic Lodge, the Brantford Shriners Club, and Grace Anglican Church.

Dr. Digby is resting at the Beckett Funeral Home. Service will be conducted in Grace Church at 3 p.m. Thursday. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery.