Mechanic, administrator.
Born at Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 13 September 1898, son of Reverend Henry Russell Dowie (1864-1934) and Maggie Whyte (1967-1927), he was called up for military service in February 1917. During the First World War he saw service with the Scottish Rifles and Highland Light Infantry, in the British Expeditionary Forces, at Flanders (France) and in the Middle East with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Returning from the overseas service, he immigrated to Canada in April 1921 and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force after its formation, becoming a permanent force instructor with the 112th City of Winnipeg Squadron. He moved to Winnipeg in 1925 as an aircraftsman and married Florence Mildred Wilson (1903-1973, daughter of William Wilson) at the St. John’s United Church in Winnipeg on 20 June 1928. The couple had two children. He won commission in 1938 and remained with the RCAF for the duration of the Second World War, including deployment near Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1941. The family returned to Winnipeg in 1942, taking up residence at 248 Ashland Avenue (1942-1945) while he worked at the Equipment Depot No. 7, first as Chief Equipment Officer (1942-1944) prior to being named the base Commanding Officer (1944-1945). For his service, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (1945). In December 1945, they left Winnipeg for the Niagara peninsula region of Ontario. A resident of Fairhaven, he died at the Civic Hospital in Peterborough on 10 August 1970 and his remains were buried at Queen’s Lawn Cemetery at Grimsby.
Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
“Russell - Wilson,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 July 1928, page 7.
Death notice [H. R. Dowie], Winnipeg Free Press, 11 October 1934, page 2.
“Good shooting at St. Charles range,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 May 1936, page 17.
“Two hostesses arrange tea for guest from Dartmouth,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 July 1941, page 9.
“Squadron-Leader and Mrs. H. R. Dowie,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 October 1942, page 11.
“Airmen’s method,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 June 1943, page 3.
“Wing Cmdr. Dowie made Commanding Officer,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 October 1944, page 3.
“Around the town [Wing Commander H.R. Dowie],” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 October 1944, page 13.
“Veterans of R.C.A.F. greeted at reunion,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 November 1944, page 8.
“Air Force veterans hold banquet Thursday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 March 1945, page 5.
“St. Paul’s United,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 May 1945, page 9.
“Mass service of Thanksgiving,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 August 1945, page 7.
“Former Winnipegger gets O.B.E. Award,” Winnipeg Free Press / Winnipeg Tribune, 10 January 1946, page 15.
Obituary [William Wilson (1868-1963)], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 February 1963, page 22.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 12 August 1970, page 44.
Obituary [Florence Mildred Dowie], Winnipeg Free Press, 21 June 1973, page 43.
Mcdonald family tree, Ancestry.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 1 January 2017
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