LEST WE FORGET 59 David Beattie and Elsie Fish A Canadian Veteran and His War Bride David Beattie was born on June 14, 1919 on the family farm, four miles south of Anerley, Saskatchewan. His parents were Robert and Margaret Beattie. David had seven siblings: Walter, Robert, John, Andrew, Joe, Madge and Betty. After leaving school, David worked on the family farm and other local farms. He enlisted in the RCAF in 1939, and after one month of training at Camp Dundurn was sent to Patricia Bay. Before he was sent overseas, he was granted leave to help with the harvest. His troop arrived in England on Christmas Day, 1941, where they were fed tripe for dinner. He was stationed at an RAF heavy bomber base in Yorkshire called Topcliffe. The RCAF played a key role on the base until the final mission on April 25, 1945. Elsie Fish was born on September 20, 1921. Her parents were Jack and Margaret Fish. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and worked in the ammunitions area, loading belts with bullets. Elsie was described as “an attractive spunky English gal from Tottington.” Elsie and David Beattie met at the base and hit it off from the start, going on bike rides and to base dances. They were married on August 26, 1944 in Tottington and enjoyed a brief honeymoon at Loch Lomond. When David returned to Canada, he worked at the War Records Office in Winnipeg until Elsie was able to join him in February 1945. A typical war bride, Elsie travelled by ship to Canada to meet David in Winnipeg. From there, they travelled by train to Anerley in February 1945, where they farmed on Nithsdale farm near Dinsmore, and raised their three daughters: Josephine, Marlene and Judy. In his sixties, David took up water and downhill skiing. He and Elsie retired to Outlook where he died on January 1, 2011 at the age of 91. David was a long-time member of The Royal Canadian Legion. Elsie passed away on March 28, 2013, also at the age of 91, and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery southeast of Dinsmore. David and Elsie Beattie on August 26, 1944
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