We regret to advise of the death of Sapper David Christie (Ret'd) of Hawkesbury ON on 19 March 2001 at the age of 78 years from complications following surgery.
David was born in Dundee, Scotland and came to Canada as an infant with his parents, arriving in Quebec City in 1924. The family established themselves in Hawkesbury about 1926 when David's father came to work as a machinist for the Canadian International Paper mill. David attended the Hawkesbury Public School and High School.
In May of 1940, David was 17 years old and unhappy at school after seeing many of his older friends leave to join the Armed Forces. He left school, travelled to Montreal and joined the 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. He did his basic training at Farnham QC. In August, the recruits travelled by truck convoy from Montreal to Debert NS where the company helped build the camp. David drove a truck and operated a bulldozer and other equipment. Unfortunately for David’s initial military aspirations, the company was scheduled to depart for England in the early summer and it was discovered Dave was underage. He was released and sent back to Hawkesbury where he got a job as an apprentice machinist in the pulp mill.
Not to be left out, David was able to join the Royal Canadian Air Force later that same year. He trained as an aero-engine mechanic and spent the rest of the war on various RCAF Stations in Ontario, ending up in Greenwood NS in 1945 when he was discharged after having volunteered to fight in the Pacific.
On returning to Hawkesbury, David worked in the pulp mill until 1953 when he became Machine Shop Foreman at Canadian Refractories new brick plant at Marelan QC. In 1972, he moved with his family to L'Orignal ON where he operated a small machine shop and sharpening service for many years. He was a member of the Hawkesbury Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
David is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Hawkesbury. {dcDec19wd} [zpp, zbd]
