Version 6.01

03 March 2021

David March © 2014

Born January 8, 1919 in Shellbrook Saskatchewan.

Lyle was raised on the family homestead in Rich Valley about 3 miles north of Shellbrook. Attended school in Rich Valley until grade 11 and was taught by his mother Mabel Lindsay (Jennings) who was originally from Bradford, England. Lyle attended High School in Shellbrook to obtain his grade 12 diploma.

After attending high school and completing his grade 12 in 1936 he worked on the farm and also spent some time in Ontario logging (rode the rails). He served in the Prince Albert and Battleford Volunteers Militia from 1934 to 1940.

Lyle attended The University of Saskatchewan from 1937-1939 and obtained his diploma in agriculture.

He applied to join the RCAF as a pilot in September of 1940 but was rejected due to a colour blindness problem. Probably a good thing, at 6'4" he may have had some trouble fitting into the cockpit and the mortality rate was very high in Bomber Command.

He attended The Saskatchewan Technical School from 1940 -1941 and took Aircraft Mechanics.

He also attended The University of Saskatchewan from Nov. 1940 to April 1941.

He enlisted in the RCAF in May 1941 in Aero Engine Mechanics and was sent to St. Thomas, Ontario for 18 weeks of training in Squadron 1, Wing 1, RCAF, St Thomas Ontario.

In Oct. 1941 he was sent to Alliford Bay on Vancouver Island, British Columbia with No. 6 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron.

Posted to Jericho Beach in Vancouver B.C. in October 1942.

Married to Iris Pearl Whitney from Three Creeks on December 6, 1942.

Shipped overseas to England in March 1943 and was stationed briefly at Topcliffe and Middleton St. George before going to Croft as a member of the 431 Squadron (bombers) where he spent the duration of the war.

Link to 431 Squadron historical details

Lyle returned to Canada in July of 1945 and was discharged in September of 1945.

He returned to the family farm and added additional land to the farm through the Veterans Land Act and built a new two-story house that was a landmark in the area for many years. It is still there. Lyle and Iris had three boys, Bill, Jerald and Keith.

In 1957 the family moved to Hinton, Alberta where Lyle worked for the Pulp Mill as a pulp cutter, scaler and then as a camp superintendent. In 1964 they moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta where Lyle worked for the plywood plant but the farming bug got a hold of him again and they purchased a farm in Sunset House, Alberta (between High Prairie and Valleyview).

They farmed there until 1981 when they retired to Lacombe Alberta.

Lyle passed away on March 18, 1985 and his wife Iris passed away on February 4, 2008.

Informant: Jerry Lindsay (son) by email

Lyle with his parents

Wedding photo, December 6, 1942

LYLE DOUGLAS LINDSAY

LAC
R98681

Gravestone

On service in England

All photos courtesy of Jerry Lindsay (son)