McBRIDE, John (Jack) died on April 30, 2009 at the age of ninety-five. Born January 30, 1914 in Montreal, Qc. and predeceased by his wife Doris Evelyn (nee Wilson), April 7, 2000. Married in October 1939, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in October 1999. Jack's entire business career spanned every aspect of the advertising profession, retiring in 1970 as a Director and Senior Vice-President of Cockfield Brown and Company. In 1971 they pulled up stakes and moved to the West Coast. Commissioned into the Black Watch of Canada during WWII, Jack volunteered as a Canloan Officer to the British Army, landing on the Normandy beaches with the 7th Bn Black Watch in the 51st (Highland) Division. His father had served in the Imperial Black Watch in the First World War and died on the Somme in November 1916. "Canloans" were a special group of Canadian Officers who volunteered to serve in the British Army due to a shortage of British Infantry Officers for the forthcoming invasion of North West Europe. The life member of the 51st (Highland) Division Officers Club his memoirs of the Normandy bridgehead are deposited in the Black Watch Museum at Belhousie Castle Perth, Scotland. Jack has requested cremation with no service.
Published in the Montreal Gazette from 6/6/2009 - 6/7/2009
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