Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: Attack at Fresnoy.

BX May 21, 1917

The toll exacted by the war from Brantford during the past week has been exceptionally heavy. Four more have been reported killed in action over the weekend. The weekend casualties hit two Brant families hard. Mr. Henry Mears, 270 Murray Street, received the word that his two sons had been killed in action on the same day, and the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Mount Pleasant, had two sons wounded the same day.
    
Exceptionally fateful was the yellow messenger which arrived as 270 Murray Street Saturday afternoon informing Mr. Henry Mears that his two sons, Privates Albert and Leonard Mears had both been killed in action on May 3. Both these young men were of a fine type and went to the front with the first overseas battalion of the 38th Dufferin Rifles. Private Albert worked at Cockshutt’s in the blacksmith shop. He was manager of the S.O.E. football team for two seasons and played cricket for the Grace Church team. Private Leonard was employed at the post office here, at the general delivery wicket and also as relief letter carrier. He was also a well-known athlete, playing with the S.O.E. soccer team and being a member of the Beavers champion carpet ball team. He enlisted with the 32nd Battery and was transferred to the Dufferin Rifles contingent that formed the nucleus of the first Brant Battalion. Both were unmarried. Their glory is the pride and their death the sorrow of their father (their mother having died last October, soon after the boys sailed), three brothers, Walter, Buffalo Street, Frank, 137 Elgin Street, and Charles, who was for four months in the 215th Battalion, and one sister, Mrs. W. Stuart (Pte. Stuart is with the 19th Batt.)

BC May 21, 1917

Two Hero Brothers Gave up Lives on the Same Day – Private Albert Mears and Private Leonard Mears Were Chums at the Front – Both Young Men Were Very Popular With a Large Circle of Friends

The Courier on Saturday contained reference to the sad fact that Mr. Henry Mears, 70 Murray St., had received a telegram conveying the announcement that two of his sons had been killed at the front on the same day. The following was the message:
    
“Deeply regret to inform you Private Albert Mears, and Private Leonard Mears, Infantry, both officially reported killed in action, May 3rd, 1917.”

Both boys were in the same platoon, C. Company, 1st Battalion and had come through Vimy Ridge together without a hurt only to fall a few days later. They were great chums.

Private Leonard Mears enlisted in August, 1915 with the 32nd Battery, went to Toronto as a draft for the 40th Battery and was transferred back to Brantford to the 125th and went to France with the first draft Oct. 10, 1916, joining the 1st Batt. 

The last letter received from him told how he came through the big battle at Vimy Ridge safe. He was employed at the Post Office as Mail Carrier. He was well known in local football circles, having been a member of the Sons of England team for many seasons. He was also prominent in Carpet ball, being a member of the Champion Beaver team for two years. Private Albert Mears enlisted in October, 1915 in the 125th and went to France on October 10th, 1916 with the first draft joining the 1st Batt. He was employed as blacksmith at Cockshutt’s, was manager of the Sons of England Football club the last two years and was also connected with Cricket, being a member of Grace Church Club. Both were unmarried. 

Another brother Charles, enlisted with the 215th, but finally had to drop out because of a bad arm. Three brothers are left – Frank, 137 Elgin St., Charles, Brock St., Walter, Buffalo St.; one sister, Mrs. W. Stewart, 270 Murray St. Mrs. Mears passed away last November, just as her two sons were leaving for France.

BC May 28, 1917

Marlborough Church Memorial Service – Privates Albert and Leonard Mears, Fallen Heroes, Honored Last Evening

Solemn and impressive was the memorial service held in the Marlborough Street Methodist Church last night in honor of Albert and Leonard Mears, the two brothers, sons of Mr. Henry Mears of this city, who sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom while making a gallant charge on German trenches with their comrades of the 125th Battalion. The Rev. J.E. Peters, who conducted the service, spoke feelingly of the upright characters of the two young men, and of the popularity, which they had enjoyed among a large circle of friends before their departure from the city, and referred to the gap that had been created by their noble deaths. The pastor spoke at some length of a letter that had been written by Private Cowan Wallace, also of the 125th, who described the situation in which the two boys gave up their lives. A charge on the German trenches had been ordered, and had commenced when the enemy artillery was directed at the onrushing troops, and for a time stemmed their progress. The writer himself had been forced to take refuge in a nearby shell hole, and remained there for about two hours, at the end of which time he emerged to participate in a renewal of the charge. Just outside the hole, he had come upon the body of Leonard Mears, with life extinct. He collected some personal effects from the boy to take back to the brother Albert, but shortly after discovered that he too had given up his life in the same charge two or three minutes previous. Thus, the two brothers had each made the supreme sacrifice without the knowledge of the other.

The father, Mr. Henry Mears, received letters from both boys in the latter part of the week in which they stated that they were then quite well. The missives bore the date of May the 12th, and two days later, May 3rd, they “went over the parapet” for the last time.

While these two boys, well known, and well-liked by all, had given up their lives that others might live, the pastor pointed out the nobility of the cause for which their lives had been shed. Leonard, who was employed as a letter carrier at the local Post Office, had been in this country for six years, and his brother, who was a blacksmith, had been here for about nine years. They were born in Kent, England.

During the service, an especially appropriate vocal duet, Tennyson’s “Crossing the Bar,” received an effective rendition by Mr. Telford and Miss Weldon.