The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Farming in Canada
“A few weeks ago, my cousin sent an article from The Courier,” emails Ann Sharp from Canada. “It was requesting information about a Canadian airman (Flight Sergeant George Barclay Robb) who died in a flying accident in September 1942 in England.
“My mother, ( George’s sister) Margaret Barclay Sharp (nee Robb) will turn 100 in September and wanted to tell David Eason about her brother ‘Joe’ and his family as she is the only surviving member of that generation of the George Robb family.
“George was born on March 8, 1914, the second son of George Barclay Robb Sr. and Janet Kilgour Barclay at Braeside Farm near Collesie in Fife. By 1920, the family included Bill, Joe (George Jr.), Bert (Robert), Ian, Margaret and Sandy (Alex).
“There was always talk of emigrating and by 1920, it became a serious topic. George Sr’s brother had come to Canada in 1908 and was married with a family and well established on a farm in Saskatchewan.
“It was decided that George, Janet and their family would come to Canada, stay with George’s brother for the summer and look for a farm of their own. The summer was spent learning about working a prairie farm and looking for a place. They bought a sizable farm about a mile from Expanse (pop. 400).
“Joe had worked along with his father and big brother on the farm, taking a great interest in the horses. When old enough, he would hitch up a horse to the buggy or sleigh (only means of transportation) and take the younger children to school.
“We always called George ‘Joe’ at home but he was George at school and whenever his signature was required, it was George Barclay Robb or George B. Robb. When George enlisted in the RCAF, he had three brothers already in the army and overseas. Sadly, his brother Bert was killed in action at Caen in July, 1944. He is buried in Brettevillesur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery.”