William spent 2 years overseas in World War II, and went missing in action along with the two other members of the 428 squadron crew (William, Joseph Srigley, Leonard Brown). He was a pilot in the RCAF.

From Claude Lafleur, the son-in-law of the only survivor:”My father-in-law was Robert Emmett Toomey, and he was the only survivor of the flight crew of aircraft KB751 that crashed off the coast of the island Sejero, Denmark.Six of seven crew members died when the aircraft was shot down.William Fairgrieve is buried on Sejero Island, and I had the opportunity to visit his grave in 2009.”

The full story of this doomed flight, with pictures, can be found here: http://www.flensted.eu.com/1944093.shtml