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Corporal Henry Charles Brade

Henry Charles Brade was born on October 17th 1883 in Manchester, England. He was the older brother to three sisters, Florence, Mary, and Alice. After Henry lost his first wife, he married Ethel Atack on June 15th 1912 in the Church of England. Within the next two years Henry and Ethel immigrated to Canada, living in Galt (Cambridge). Henry worked as a machinist both in England and in Canada. When the First World War was declared, Henry, having experience fighting for the Lancashire Fusiliers decided to volunteer for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Henry served as a Corporal in France and Belgium. On April 22nd 1915, at the age of 31 Henry was killed in action. Corporal Henry Charles Brade* is commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Service number: 6997

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“Four Galt Men Killed,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 11 May 1915.
*The newspaper article refers to Henry Brade as a Sergeant but his Service File records him as a Corporal

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Private Bert Lavender

Bert Lavender was born on December 31st, 1894 to Charles and Mary Lavender in Sussex, England. In 1905 Charles and Mary moved their six children and Charles’ brother to Canada. They arrived on board the SS Lake Champlain and settled in Prince Edward County, Ontario. There the men of the family, including Bert, worked as farmers to support the family. Bert had just begun working as a carpenter when war broke out in 1914.

Bert and his brother John, both with experience in both the military and militia (though no files are available) volunteered to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Bert fought as a Private for the 2nd Battalion in Belgium. He was killed in action on April 22nd, 1915 at St. Julien during the Second Battle of Ypres at 20 years old. Bert’s brother John survived the war and returned home to the Waterloo region. John married a young woman named Alice who moved to Canada from England in 1918. Together John and Alice had five children and eventually moved to Rhode Island where John worked as a mechanic. Private Bert Lavender is buried at Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Service number: 8224

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Bert Lavender,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 21, 2015,
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/138423?Bert%20Lavender

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Private James Leith

James Leith was born on March 27th, 1895 in Aberdeen, Scotland. James was one of seven children born to Alexander and Jane Leith. The family immigrated to Canada on July 3rd, 1910 on board the SS Athenia. After settling in Galt (Cambridge), James’ father worked as a road labourer, his older brother Alex was a machinist and he worked as a labourer for an iron foundry.

James was a member of the 29th Regiment for one month when war broke out in 1914. James volunteered to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and fought for the 1st Battalion in Belgium. Sadly at just 20 years old James was killed in action on April 22nd, 1915 during an attack at St. Julien during the Second Battle of Ypres. Following James’ death, his brother Alex volunteered to join the CEF; he fought on the Western Front and as returned safety home after the war. Private James Leith is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.

Service number: 7054

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: James Leith,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 21, 2015, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1593801?James%20Leith

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Sergeant Ernest John Rowe

Ernest John Rowe was born to John William and Mary Rowe on September 1st, 1883 in England. After immigrating to Canada, Ernest fell in love and married a woman named Emma from London, Ontario. They lived together in Galt (Cambridge) while Ernest worked as a machinist and was a member of the 29th Waterloo Regiment militia.

Upon the declaration of war in August 1914, Ernest as a member of the militia joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force where he was quickly promoted up the ranks to Sergeant. Ernest fought in No. 2 Company of the 1st Battalion in Belgium. Ernest was killed in action on April 22nd, 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. While it is not known for sure how Ernest died, April 22nd, 1915 was the day on which the Germans first employed the use of chlorine gas as form of chemical warfare, and it is possible Ernest was one of its casualties. Sergeant Ernest John Rowe is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.

Service number: 7001

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Ernest John Rowe,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 21, 2015, memorial/detail/1595729?Ernest%20John%20Rowe

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Private Robert Norman Bittle

Robert Norman Bittle was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Bittle on August 31st 1892 in Guelph, Ontario. The young Robert, a pale blue-eyed boy with dark brown hair was baptized in the Church of England. His parents later moved to Toronto, but Robert stayed and was working in Guelph as a bookkeeper when the First World War broke out.

With no prior military or militia experience on September 22nd 1914 he volunteered to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He travelled with 1st Canadian Infantry and fought with the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment). Robert was 23 years old when he killed in action in Vlamertinghe, Belgium on April 23rd 1915. He was shot and killed instantly while fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres. Private Robert Norman Bittle is commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Service number: 9775

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Robert Norman Bittle,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 15, 2015, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/922214?Robert%20Norman%20Bittle

 

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Lieutenant Thomas Downie Lockhart

Thomas Downie Lockhart was born on January 25th, 1879 in Scotland to Archibald and Margaret Lockhart. Thomas and his family moved to Canada where he worked as a contractor for many years with his brother. At 35 years old and a bachelor, Thomas was “one of the most popular military men in Galt,” and was an active member of the 29th Regiment. Thomas was one of the first men from Galt (Cambridge) to volunteer to fight for the Canadian Expeditionary Force in August 1914. Thomas’s brother Archie stayed home and tended to their mother and their plumbing and steam heating business. Thomas was promoted to Captain for the 1st Battalion in Belgium. On May 13th 1915 Archie received a telegram that said,

“Dear Mr. Lockhart – I deeply regret to report the death of your brother Captain T.D. Lockhart on the forenoon of Friday 23rd inst. He was leading his platoon in a charge over a long stretch of open country which afforded no cover and just before reaching an old trench about 600 yards from the enemy he was struck by a bullet and was carried into the trench where he lived only a few minutes. The casualty list was very heavy and I was the only officer in your brother’s company not seriously hurt… Major Kimmins had taken your brother’s valuables and put them in his own kit, but he next was killed… Your mother and yourself have the most sincere sympathy of the officers of the 1st Battalion. I am yours very truly, P.W. Pick, Lieut. First Battalion.”

Thomas left behind his mother, four brothers, and two sisters. Lieutenant Thomas Downie Lockhart is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.

Service number: N/A

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“Thomas Downie Lockhart,” Waterloo Region Generations, assessed March 20, 2015, http://generations.regionofwaterloo.ca/getperson.php?personID=I84630&tree=generations
“Capt. Lockhart Was Killed in Action,” The Waterloo Chronicle, May 13, 1915.

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Private Frederick Augusta Blacklock

Frederick Augusta Blacklock was born on May 16th 1885 in Milton, Ontario. He grew up in the Waterloo region. Frederick was 29 and working as a tailor in Galt (Cambridge) when the First World War broke out. He volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force on August 29th 1914. Frederick fought bravely with the 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment). During the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 Frederick was reported missing. Frederick’s comrades later reported him having been killed by shrapnel on April 24th 1915. Private Frederick Augusta Blacklock’s body was never recovered but he is commemorated at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Service number: 9770

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Frederick Augusta Blacklock,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 15, 2015, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/922229?Frederick%20Augustus%20Blacklock

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Private Robert Ingham

Robert Ingham was born in Dublin, Ireland to Kate Holden on December 22nd, 1893. After immigrating to Canada and settling in the Waterloo region Robert worked as a salesman and spent a year with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto. Upon the declaration of war in 1914, as a member of the militia Robert joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. At 21 years old Robert was fighting with B Company 2nd Battalion in Belgium during the Second Battle of Ypres. On April 24th, 1915 Robert was killed instantly by a “minenwerfer” shell while in his dugout at the front line trench at Hill 60 in Zillebeke, Belgium. Private Robert Ingham is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Service Number: 7752

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Robert Kenyon Housler,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 21, 2015,
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1593306?Robert%20Kenyon%20Ingham

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Private Edwin James Sutton

Edwin James Sutton was born on May 24, 1895 to James and Annie Sutton in Wales. After immigrating with his family to Canada and settling in Galt (Cambridge), Ontario Edwin worked as a labourer. Edwin decided to be one of the first to volunteer to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Edwin fought in the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment) in Belgium. Sadly, on April 30th, a week after the beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres, Edwin was killed in action at just 19 years old. Private Edwin James Sutton is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.

Service number: 7085

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“Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Edwin James Sutton,” Veterans Affairs Canada, accessed March 21, 2015, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1596408?Edwin%20James%20Sutton
“Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial,” Commonwealth War Graves Commission, accessed March 24, 2015, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/91800/YPRES%20(MENIN%20GATE)%20MEMORIAL

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Private John Hatchman

John Hatchman was born Dec 21st, 1884 in England and later immigrated to Canada with his mother. John worked as a policeman in Waterloo, and spent four years with the Royal Canadian Artillery. John fell in love and married a woman named Lillian.

When war broke out in August 1914 John enlisted for the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Ottawa, Ontario. Despite his military and police experience John was enlisted as a Private. John fought for the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) in Belgium during the Second Battle of Ypres. On the evening of May 8th, 1915 John did not answer to roll call following action with his battalion at Bellewaarde Lake near Ypres. He was reported missing by his superiors and was later officially presumed dead. As no body was ever recovered Private John Hatchman is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.

Service number: 273

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“Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial,” Commonwealth War Graves Commission, accessed March 24, 2015, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/91800/YPRES%20(MENIN%20GATE)%20MEMORIAL
“PTE Hatchman is Wounded and Missing,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, May 29, 1915.