400840 Pte. Horace Mears

Regina Trench Cemetery

Grandcourt

Near Courcelette

France

Born in September 1878, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, Horace signed on in London, Ontario, in April 1915.

Originally attesting into the 33rd Battalion, on April 20th, 1915, Horace was a labourer by trade, with 4 years previous military experience noted in the Territorials.

The 33rd Battalion provided 206 men to the 4th CMR in early May and early June 1916, the latter and larger batch being after the 4th CMR's huge losses in the "Battle for Mount Sorrel" on June 2nd, 1916. Horace was transferred to the 4th CMR and joined them in the field on June 7th.

At the time of Horace's loss, on October 1st, 1916, the 4th CMR was engaged in a costly attack on Regina Trench, in which some 70 men of the 4th CMR were lost. Horace was killed instantly by an enemy bullet hit to the head.

Pte. Horace Mears is one of 15 men of the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles who are known to lie at rest in Regina Trench Military Cemetery.

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Headstone image, thanks to Gord McKeekan, and biography excerpt courtesy of David Kavanagh.