Shoeing Smith Bertram Harry Hornsby son of the widow Mrs Ada L Hornsby of Hamilton, Ontario. Born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England on 31 May 1894. A single farmhand.
The 40th Battery known as the Sportsmen’s Battery due to the commanding officer’s preference for men active in clean sport.
Enlistment of Driver Bertram Harry Hornsby
Driver Bertram Harry Hornsby 303301 enlisted 19 August 1915 in Hamilton, Ontario with the 4th Battery. He was 21 years of age, standing 5′ 7″ tall, 147 pounds, with ruddy complexion, brown eyes and sandy hair. Tattooed on both arms, operation scar left groin.
Hornsby transferred to the 40th Battery on 13 September 1915.
40th Battery, CFA
Organized in August 1915 under the command of Major Gordon Hamilton Southam. Southam famous for having made a drop kick on 26 October 1907 in the dying moments of a game in Montreal (two years before the first Grey Cup).
The 40th mobilized and recruited in Hamilton. Left Saint John 5 February 1916 aboard METAGAMA. Arrived in England 14 February 1916. Arrived in France 13 July 1916 with 8th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery. Transferred to 10th Brigade in May 1917. Demobilized at Hamilton in March 1919. Perpetuated by 40th Field Battery, Hamilton.
The 40th Battery embarked from St. John, Canada per SS METAGAMA on 5 February 1916. Later disembarking in Plymouth on 14 February 1916.
France
Driver Bertram Harry Hornsby landed in France on 14 September 1916 with the 40th battery. C/O Major Gordon Hamilton Southam killed in action the following month while guiding his men through the trenches.
Hornsby admitted to No. 3 General Hospital, Perianal abscess, slight. Transferred to No. 17 CCS. Transferred to No. 7 Convalescent Depot. Finally returned to the 8th Brigade on 17 September 1916.
The 40th Battery transferred to the 10th Brigade upon reorganization, 5 May 1917.
Shoeing Smith
Hornsby appointed Shoeing Smith in the Field, on 27 June 1917.
Shoeing Smith Bertram Harry Hornsby awarded one Good Conduct Badge having completed two years of service on 19 August 1917.
Granted a leave of absence on 21 November 1917.
Eczema
Admitted to No 8 CFA, 30 May 1918 with eczema of the feet. Admitted to No. 4 CCS and transferred to No 15 General Hospital, 4 June 1918. Finally released on 21 July 1918. Rejoined his unit later in August of 1918.
Granted 14 days leave to UK on 4 December 1918.
Admitted to Canadian Special Hospital Witley, Surrey, VDS & VDG on 27 February 1919. Later discharged on 7 May 1919.
Returned to England from 10th Brigade in May of 1919.
Returned to Canada per SS LAPLAND on 2 June 1919.
Immediately upon arrival at Hamilton, Hornsby admitted with scabies and catarrhal jaundice (infectious hepatitis) to Hamilton Military Hospital on 20 June 1919.
However, the medical officer noted he died at No.2 District Depot, at 5:30 am, 2 July 1919, having lapsed into unconsciousness just before midnight.
Hamilton Cemetery
CWGC and CVWM have Hornsby’s date of death as 1 July 1919, while Hornsby’s headstone inexplicably reads 7 December 1919.
During the 1939-1945 War, Hamilton the seat of No. S. 24 (originally No. S. 8) Canadian Army Trades School and No.2 Canadian Army Vocational Training School. The cemetery contains Commonwealth war graves of both world wars.
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