Professor Merton Yarwood Williams

[sapper740]

Not all contributions to the war effort were made on the field of battle. My maternal Grandfather, M.Y. Williams joined the Canadian Geological Survey in 1912 after receiving his Ph.D. in Geology from Yale. At the outbreak of the Great War, my grandfather was surveying the Silurian area west of the Niagara escarpment on his Excelsior motorcycle aided by 5 graduate students. Members of the C.G.S. were discouraged from enlisting because of the importance of their work. One of his students, George S. Hume joined the Canadian Engineers and upon his return from the War rose to the position of Director of Mines and Technical Surveys. By 1916 the Allies were growing short of petroleum. At a time of coal shortage due to war-time transportation difficulties, my grandfather was ordered to survey the oil and gas fields in Ontario. Jumping in a 2nd hand 1915 Chevrolet, my grandfather along with three high school students explored around Bothwell, Dover Township, and Lake St. Claire, also utilizing horse and buggy and a launch, the Minidith. Based upon my grandfather's surveys, 16 wells brought long lasting supplies of oil and gas for the war effort.


Next week's installment; My grandfather's contribution to the war effort in WWII.

CHIMO!