We regret to advise of the death of Captain Christopher Malcolm Keith “Chris” Deas-Dawlish, CD (Ret’d) on 12 November 2017 in Vancouver, BC after a battle with cancer.
Chris was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, in 1943 and moved to Dar-es-Salaam and then Nairobi, Kenya. He spent a short time in a boarding school in England and then returned to Kenya for high school from where he gained a Royal Air Force (RAF) scholarship to Aberdeen University in Scotland in 1963. Chris began his full-time training at Leeming RAF Station in Yorkshire in 1966 where, as a Pilot Officer, he flew Jet Provosts. Following an injury that precluded further piloting of jet aircraft, Chris left the RAF, married and then emigrated to Canada in 1968.
Chris joined 6th Field Engineer Squadron in Vancouver in 1979 and served in various administrative positions until October 1980 when he transferred to the Logistics Branch as a Lieutenant. He worked out of Militia District Headquarters Vancouver where, as a Staff Officer, he commanded the District Intelligence Section. During that time he organized the Summer Youth Employment Program at CFB Chilliwack.
In 1985 Chris transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada as a recently promoted Captain and served as the Finance Officer. He was heavily involved as a volunteer in much of the refurbishing program for their Officer’s Mess. In 1987 Chris was awarded the CD and in 1989 he retired from the Primary Reserve. Chris was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992 .
A memorial service will be held at the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Armoury on 8 April 2018. Condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home.
