Lawrence Wilton Skey (October 29, 1911 – May 8, 1977) was a Canadian businessman and politician.
Skey was born in
London, Ontario
London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...
and educated at
Ridley College
Ridley College (also known as RC, Ridley) is a private boarding and day university-preparatory school located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, 20 miles (32 km) from Niagara Falls. The school confers the Ontario Secondary School Diploma ...
and the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
where he earned a commerce degree.
He became a chartered accountant before joining the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
in 1936 and went on to serve during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He was
mentioned in despatches
To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
on two occasions and was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross. He was active in the
Norwegian Campaign making reconnaissance flights over Norway's coast looking for German battleships. He also served in Singapore, India, Suez, Gibraltar, Malta and Malaya.
Skey was transferred to the
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
in 1944 and served as a wing commander. He retired from the air force in 1946 after being elected to the
House of Commons of Canada
The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada.
The House of Common ...
as the
Progressive Conservative MP for
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
in the
1945 federal election. He served for four years until he was defeated in the
1949 federal election by Liberal
Lionel Conacher
Lionel Pretoria Conacher, MP (; May 24, 1900 – May 26, 1954), nicknamed "The Big Train", was a Canadian athlete and politician. Voted the country's top athlete of the first half of the 20th century, he won championships in numerous sports. ...
.
He returned to private life and entered the investment business ultimately becoming president and director of York Associates in Toronto and also vice-president of Canadian Scudder Investment Fund.
External links
*
Canada Veterans' Hall of Valour biography
1911 births
1977 deaths
Businesspeople from London, Ontario
Businesspeople from Toronto
Canadian military personnel of World War II
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
Military personnel from Toronto
Politicians from London, Ontario
Politicians from Toronto
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs
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