FamilySearch ID: LCTQ-C79
Excerpts from http://househistorian.blogspot.com/2009/09/west-end-story-1550-harwood-robert.html
Robert Mills Blair was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec on March 15, 1876, the son of Scottish-born David Blair and Margaret Eliza Harrower. At an early age Robert Blair developed an interest in guns and shooting. He bought his first rifle at age twelve and joined the 9th Quebec Royal Rifles at age 13.
In 1902, he went to Yukon to search for gold, and while there, joined the Yukon Corps of Guides while maintaining membership in the Dawson Rifle Club. In 1909, he returned to Vancouver, and in 1911, joined the newly formed '72nd Highlanders of Canada' which, on December 16, 1912 was redesignated the '72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada'. Blair served overseas as a small arms expert during the First World War. He became a major in 1915 and was seconded to Experimental Department Small Arms Branch of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in January of 1916 and served to the end of the war in Canada, England and France.
In 1924 Robert Mills Blair was appointed second-in-command of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and to the command of the battalion in 1928. Blair commanded the 72nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders from 1928 to 1933 and was awarded the “Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Decoration” in 1928. He was considered the leading expert in small arms in Canada.
Soon after, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Mills Blair became the toast of Canada when he took the King’s Prize and the Grand Aggregate awards at the British Empire rifle matches at the Bizley Rifle Range in 1929. This was a rare achievement, but not the first time a Canadian had done so. (The first Canadian winner of a Bisley King's Prize and Grand Aggregate Score was Rifleman Sam Perry, 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles in 1904.) Blair was the first commanding officer of a regiment to win either prize.
Shortly before retiring as commander of the Seaforths in 1933 the federal government named the Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver in Blair’s honour. In that same year, Blair's wife Mabella (1877-1933) passed away.
Robert Mills Blair lived to a ripe old age of 93. Ten days before his death, the Province Newspaper ran an article on Blair and his accomplishments on Friday June 9, 1967 entitled ‘93 and still top gun.’
Blair died early Monday morning on June 19, 1967. He and his wife had been walking the dog at 3am in front of the house when he collapsed from a heart attack. He was pronounced DOA at St. Paul’s Hospital. A funeral was held at St. John’s United Church on Wednesday the 21st. Blair’s body was buried in Ocean view Cemetery the same day.
Excerpts from http://househistorian.blogspot.com/2009/09/west-end-story-1550-harwood-robert.html
Robert Mills Blair was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec on March 15, 1876, the son of Scottish-born David Blair and Margaret Eliza Harrower. At an early age Robert Blair developed an interest in guns and shooting. He bought his first rifle at age twelve and joined the 9th Quebec Royal Rifles at age 13.
In 1902, he went to Yukon to search for gold, and while there, joined the Yukon Corps of Guides while maintaining membership in the Dawson Rifle Club. In 1909, he returned to Vancouver, and in 1911, joined the newly formed '72nd Highlanders of Canada' which, on December 16, 1912 was redesignated the '72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada'. Blair served overseas as a small arms expert during the First World War. He became a major in 1915 and was seconded to Experimental Department Small Arms Branch of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in January of 1916 and served to the end of the war in Canada, England and France.
In 1924 Robert Mills Blair was appointed second-in-command of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and to the command of the battalion in 1928. Blair commanded the 72nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders from 1928 to 1933 and was awarded the “Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Decoration” in 1928. He was considered the leading expert in small arms in Canada.
Soon after, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Mills Blair became the toast of Canada when he took the King’s Prize and the Grand Aggregate awards at the British Empire rifle matches at the Bizley Rifle Range in 1929. This was a rare achievement, but not the first time a Canadian had done so. (The first Canadian winner of a Bisley King's Prize and Grand Aggregate Score was Rifleman Sam Perry, 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles in 1904.) Blair was the first commanding officer of a regiment to win either prize.
Shortly before retiring as commander of the Seaforths in 1933 the federal government named the Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver in Blair’s honour. In that same year, Blair's wife Mabella (1877-1933) passed away.
Robert Mills Blair lived to a ripe old age of 93. Ten days before his death, the Province Newspaper ran an article on Blair and his accomplishments on Friday June 9, 1967 entitled ‘93 and still top gun.’
Blair died early Monday morning on June 19, 1967. He and his wife had been walking the dog at 3am in front of the house when he collapsed from a heart attack. He was pronounced DOA at St. Paul’s Hospital. A funeral was held at St. John’s United Church on Wednesday the 21st. Blair’s body was buried in Ocean view Cemetery the same day.
FamilySearch ID: LCTQ-C79
Excerpts from http://househistorian.blogspot.com/2009/09/west-end-story-1550-harwood-robert.html
Robert Mills Blair was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec on March 15, 1876, the son of Scottish-born David Blair and Margaret Eliza Harrower. At an early age Robert Blair developed an interest in guns and shooting. He bought his first rifle at age twelve and joined the 9th Quebec Royal Rifles at age 13.
In 1902, he went to Yukon to search for gold, and while there, joined the Yukon Corps of Guides while maintaining membership in the Dawson Rifle Club. In 1909, he returned to Vancouver, and in 1911, joined the newly formed '72nd Highlanders of Canada' which, on December 16, 1912 was redesignated the '72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada'. Blair served overseas as a small arms expert during the First World War. He became a major in 1915 and was seconded to Experimental Department Small Arms Branch of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in January of 1916 and served to the end of the war in Canada, England and France.
In 1924 Robert Mills Blair was appointed second-in-command of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and to the command of the battalion in 1928. Blair commanded the 72nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders from 1928 to 1933 and was awarded the “Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Decoration” in 1928. He was considered the leading expert in small arms in Canada.
Soon after, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Mills Blair became the toast of Canada when he took the King’s Prize and the Grand Aggregate awards at the British Empire rifle matches at the Bizley Rifle Range in 1929. This was a rare achievement, but not the first time a Canadian had done so. (The first Canadian winner of a Bisley King's Prize and Grand Aggregate Score was Rifleman Sam Perry, 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles in 1904.) Blair was the first commanding officer of a regiment to win either prize.
Shortly before retiring as commander of the Seaforths in 1933 the federal government named the Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver in Blair’s honour. In that same year, Blair's wife Mabella (1877-1933) passed away.
Robert Mills Blair lived to a ripe old age of 93. Ten days before his death, the Province Newspaper ran an article on Blair and his accomplishments on Friday June 9, 1967 entitled ‘93 and still top gun.’
Blair died early Monday morning on June 19, 1967. He and his wife had been walking the dog at 3am in front of the house when he collapsed from a heart attack. He was pronounced DOA at St. Paul’s Hospital. A funeral was held at St. John’s United Church on Wednesday the 21st. Blair’s body was buried in Ocean view Cemetery the same day.
Excerpts from http://househistorian.blogspot.com/2009/09/west-end-story-1550-harwood-robert.html
Robert Mills Blair was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec on March 15, 1876, the son of Scottish-born David Blair and Margaret Eliza Harrower. At an early age Robert Blair developed an interest in guns and shooting. He bought his first rifle at age twelve and joined the 9th Quebec Royal Rifles at age 13.
In 1902, he went to Yukon to search for gold, and while there, joined the Yukon Corps of Guides while maintaining membership in the Dawson Rifle Club. In 1909, he returned to Vancouver, and in 1911, joined the newly formed '72nd Highlanders of Canada' which, on December 16, 1912 was redesignated the '72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada'. Blair served overseas as a small arms expert during the First World War. He became a major in 1915 and was seconded to Experimental Department Small Arms Branch of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in January of 1916 and served to the end of the war in Canada, England and France.
In 1924 Robert Mills Blair was appointed second-in-command of the Seaforth Highlanders. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and to the command of the battalion in 1928. Blair commanded the 72nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders from 1928 to 1933 and was awarded the “Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Decoration” in 1928. He was considered the leading expert in small arms in Canada.
Soon after, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Mills Blair became the toast of Canada when he took the King’s Prize and the Grand Aggregate awards at the British Empire rifle matches at the Bizley Rifle Range in 1929. This was a rare achievement, but not the first time a Canadian had done so. (The first Canadian winner of a Bisley King's Prize and Grand Aggregate Score was Rifleman Sam Perry, 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles in 1904.) Blair was the first commanding officer of a regiment to win either prize.
Shortly before retiring as commander of the Seaforths in 1933 the federal government named the Blair Rifle Range in North Vancouver in Blair’s honour. In that same year, Blair's wife Mabella (1877-1933) passed away.
Robert Mills Blair lived to a ripe old age of 93. Ten days before his death, the Province Newspaper ran an article on Blair and his accomplishments on Friday June 9, 1967 entitled ‘93 and still top gun.’
Blair died early Monday morning on June 19, 1967. He and his wife had been walking the dog at 3am in front of the house when he collapsed from a heart attack. He was pronounced DOA at St. Paul’s Hospital. A funeral was held at St. John’s United Church on Wednesday the 21st. Blair’s body was buried in Ocean view Cemetery the same day.
Gravesite Details
Buried 21-June-1967
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
