Ziegler Way was dedicated to Brigadier William Smith Ziegler by the Canada Lands Company on January 16, 2008, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
Brigadier Ziegler was born in Calgary in 1911, he moved to Edmonton in 1925 and enlisted in the militia as a boy soldier. He enlisted in the 61st Field Battery of the Non-Permanent Active Militia in 1926 and by 1931 he was Battery Sergeant-Major. In 1939, he was mobilized with the 1st Canadian Division and went overseas in January 1940.
At 33 years old, he was promoted to Brigadier and Commander Royal Artillery, 1st Canadian Division who were then on Italy’s Ortona Winter Line. His skillful use of artillery and his masterful fire plans throughout the Liri Valley operations contributed significantly to the success of the Allied advance to Rome and resulted in his appointment to the Distinguished Service Order. He then went to Holland to assist with the final defeat of the Third Reich, where he received the surrender of 100,000 men. In September 1945, he received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the grade of Commander.
Brigadier Ziegler served with the British Foreign Office (German Section). He was Deputy Commander Hannover Region with the Control Commission for Germany and later, until 1950, served as the Regional Administration Officer, Land in Niedersachsen.