Civil servant.
Born at Belfast, Ireland on 19 July 1907, eldest son of John Todd Bailie (1881-1969) and Jane Ann “Jennie” Harrison (c1882-1975), he accompanied the family to Winnipeg at age of three and attended Lord Robert School and Kelvin High School. While in school, he joined the Lord Robert School Cadets and later became Officer Commanding (1924-1930) for the Winnipeg Grenadier Cadets.
After completing his education, he began working as a customs broker for the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). With the onset of Second World War, he transferred from the cadets to the Winnipeg Grenadiers and was promoted from Captain to Major around September 1941. He was wounded in the Battle of Hong Kong (December 1941) and was taken prisoner of war. After being liberated, he was promoted to Colonel in 1946 and appointed Officer Commanding the Canadian War Graves Unit in South East Asia, remaining in the region for around two years.
He returned home and rejoined the MLCC, retiring in 1967 as Manager of Operations. He was an active oarsman, coach, and served as President of the Winnipeg Rowing Club (c1949-1953), North West International Rowing Association (1953-?), and Crescentwood-River Heights Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (?-?). On 27 March 1937, he married Eva Bertha Aubert (?-?) at the All Saints Anglican Church and they had two daughters.
He retired to British Columbia in 1967 and died at Victoria on 6 January 1974. He was buried in the Veterans Cemetery at Esquimalt.
Death registrations, British Columbia Vital Statistics.
Engagements [Mr. J. A. Aubert ...], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 February 1937, page 10.
“Ceremony at high noon unites Eva. B. Aubert and John A. Bailie,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 March 1937, page 15.
“Bailie - Aubert,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 March 1937, page 6.
Birth notice [Janeva Lucille Bailie], Winnipeg Tribune, 26 August 1940, page 16.
“Local officer is promoted,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 September 1941, page 5.
“New Customs Chief named [John T. Bailie],” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 May 1942, page 11.
“New of Hong Kong men brings joy to many homes,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 May 1942, page 8.
“2 Grenadiers ‘get along well’,” Winnipeg Tribune, 18 January 1943, page 9.
“Liberated Grenadiers [Major J. A. Baillie],” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 September 1945, page 17.
“Rowing Club opens season,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 May 1949, page 16.
“Bailie heads international rowing group,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 May 1953, page 34.
“[Photo caption; Bailie’s birthday gift,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 July 1953, page 16.
Obituary [John Todd Bailie], Winnipeg Free Press, 11 February 1969, page 32.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 7 January 1974, page 25.
Obituary [Jane Ann Bailie], Winnipeg Free Press, 22 December 1975, page 33.
Individual report, X84 - John Bailie, Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 11 October 2024
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