George Baillie

The son of a miner from the Fife village of Hill of Beath, George Baillie emigrated with his family to Saskatchewan, Canada when he was two-years of age. During his time in Canada, as a youngster, he was a fine swimmer, played baseball, was the north-east Saskatchewan junior half-mile track champion, and also played juvenile ice hockey. Baillie returned to Scotland in 1937, and got a job as a Glasgow warehouseman. He also joined the Glasgow Mohawks ice hockey team, playing as a winger before switching to defence. He also had a spell playing for the Ayr Raiders. During World War II Baillie served with the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), and, in June 1940, was reported missing in France but, happily, a month later he turned up safe and well.

After the War Baillie played his ice hockey in England with the successful Streatham club. He also played baseball for Surrey Tigers. After finishing his playing career, Baillie returned to Canada, and in 1956 took out citizenship and settled in Ontario, where he worked as an aircraft mechanic.