Bert Lawrence
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Bert Lawrence | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1967–1974 | |
| Preceded by | New riding |
| Succeeded by | Paul Frederick Taylor |
| Constituency | Carleton East |
| In office 1963–1967 | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Lavergne |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Constituency | Russell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 31, 1923 |
| Died | March 28, 2007 (aged 83) |
| Party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Lois Davidson |
| Children | 4 |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Awards | MC |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1944-1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars) |
| Battles/wars | D-Day, Liberation of the Netherlands |
Albert Benjamin Rutter "Bert" Lawrence MC (March 31, 1923 – March 28, 2007) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1974 who represented the ridings of Russell and Carleton East. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of John Robarts and Bill Davis.
Lawrence was born in Calgary, Alberta, and grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. He was educated at Ashbury College and at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. He enlisted in the army with the rank of Lieutenant in the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (VIII Recce). He landed in Normandy in the first week of July 1944. He was decorated with the Military Cross by King George VI for engineering a bridge in an advance action at the Risle River near Brionne, France. He was injured twice including during V2 rocket attack near Antwerp in October 1944. Lawrence reflected on his narrow escapes from death. He wrote in his journal, "Keeping alive consists of 90 per cent luck and 10 per cent soldiering."[1] He returned to action in February 1945 and participated to the end of the fighting. He was promoted to captain at the end of the war.[2]
When he returned home he acquired a law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. He graduated in 1948 and went to work for an Ottawa firm called Honeywell, Baker, Gibson, and Wotherspoon. He married Lois Davidson in October 1949 [3] and they raised four children. He died in Gatineau, Quebec in 2007.[2]
