Lieutenant Colonel Dave Beaubier
181st (Brandon) Battalion

Dave Beaubier had a genius for friendship, and a love of all classes and creeds, which bespeak that broad-minded type of charity, religion and friendship which enriches life.

(R. J. Manion, Debates, 13 Jan 1939, 7)

David Wilson Beaubier was born in St. Mary’s, Canada West on 21 May 1864. He was an early pioneer to Manitoba in the 1880s and established himself as a farmer. A captain with the 99th Manitoba Rifles, Beaubier assumed command of the 181st Battalion after the death of Lieutenant Colonel G. W. Bruce, who had succumbed to injuries from an accident in April 1916.

After sailing for England in April 1917, the 181st was broken and its commander was struck off strength as surplus to requirements. All three of Beaubier’s sons also served overseas; two in the infantry and one in the air force.

Beaubier contested the riding of Brandon in the 1925 and 1926 elections, but lost both attempts to Progressive Robert Forke. Undeterred, he tried for a third time and won in 1930 by unseating Thomas Crerar. Beaubier was the only Conservative to retain a seat in Manitoba during the Liberal landslide victory in 1935.

He died in office on 1 September 1938.