Stories behind the names on the Burlington cenotaph
WE WERE JUST DOING OUR BIT FIRST WORLD WAR
SAPPER HARRY ERNEST BRAIN
Oct. 29, 1896 – Aug. 20, 1918 (21 years) Canadian Engineers, 1st Tramway Co. Died: Caix, Somme, France. Buried: Caix British Cemetery.
The son of a linesman, Brain was one of 10 children — four boys and six girls. He was born in Oakville, but grew up in Burlington. On Aug. 30, 1915, he joined the 92nd Highlanders Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., as a sapper. A sapper is someone who builds roads and bridges, lays or clears mines and takes part in other construction projects. “On the afternoon of Aug. 20, 1918, this soldier was one of a party awaiting orders at the edge of a wood, when an enemy high velocity shell landed in the middle of the party, killing Sapper Brain and (15) others instantly,” according to Veterans Affairs records.
LANCE-CPL. HERBERT WILLIAM KEARSE
Aug. 27, 1888 – April 28, 1917 (28 years) 10th Bn., Canadian Infantry
Died: Arleux Loop near Arleux-en-Gohelle
Buried: No known grave. Commemorated at the Vimy Memorial in France
Kearse was born in Burford, Oxforshire, England but moved to Burlington in 1910. He was married with two sons, living on Brant Street. He enlisted with his brother Harold on Sept. 1, 1915. Harold survived the war. “(Kearse was) in charge of a Lewis gun crew, and while proceeding to the ‘jumping off’ position, just prior to an attack on the village of Arleux-en-Gohelle, he was instantly killed by concussion caused by the explosion of an enemy high-explosive shell,” according to Veterans Affairs records.
CAPT. GEORGE ORME MCNAIR
Oct. 15, 1872 – May 1, 1916 (43 years) 58th Bn., Canadian Infantry
Died: Zillebeke (three kilometres from Ypres)
Buried: Maple Copse Cemetery, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
McNair was born in Lowville, and after living out west for a time returned to the Hamilton area. He worked for the freight traffic department of the Grand Trunk Railway and was in his early 40s when he enlisted in 1915. He had at least one son, also named George. A postcard written to the boy from McNair said: “Hurry up and write me some more letters. Keep up the supply. They are good letters and I like to get them. Take good care of Mummy Muff and the rest. Remember you are the man of the house now, Lovingly yours, Daddy.” About 2 ½ months after arriving in France, McNair was killed when a mortar shell exploded in his trench three kilometres east of Ypres.