Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: Trenches West of Messines.

BX October 5, 1915

Private Earl Houser Reported Killed On Field of Action – Left Brantford in January Last – Son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Houser, Grey St., After Escaping Bullets from June 10 to Sept. 22, Met Death on Sept. 23 – Left here with 25th Brant Dragoons

The loss of Brantford and Brant County men killed in action, or died of wounds, was increased to 30 this morning, when Mr. Levi Houser, 176 Grey Street, received an official message from Ottawa that his son, Pte. Earl Houser had been killed in action on September 23.

Private Earl Houser left Brantford in January last with the 25th Brant Dragoons, under command of Lieut. Stratford. At Toronto the contingent was turned over to the 7th Mounted Rifles. These went to England, and he was drafted from there to the Royal Canadian Dragoons, going to France June 7. By June 10 he was in the trenches in France. On July 1 they went into the trenches in Belgium, and from that day to Sept. 23, when he was killed. Private Houser had been in and out of the first line trenches, without receiving a wound or being ill.

The news came to Mr. and Mrs. Houser as a great shock, as only last week they had received two cheery letters from their son. A number of postcards of Ypres had been received by them from their son, and they are of the opinion that it was in this region that he met the call.

In addition to his parents he leaves a brother, George of Woodstock, and a sister, Mina, at home to mourn his loss. This is the first Brant County casualty reported since Aug. 31.

BX October 9, 1915

How Private Earl Houser Died – Was Killed while Bombing German Line, Being Hit by a Stray Bullet

Details of the death of Private Earl Houser have been received by his parents in a letter from Pte. H.A. Spencer. The letter reads:

Sept. 25, 1915
Belgium, Trenches

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Houser, 

It falls to me to acquaint you with the sad news of Earl’s death, as I am the only Brantford boy, besides Mr. Chambers. His sister, Mrs. Pettit, lives on Clarence Street. I knew Earl in Brantford and it was a great blow to me and the whole troop, who send their heartfelt sympathy. I think our officer, Mr. Nordheimer is writing you also. Earl was in our tent with us out at billets and we sure had a good time. We came from Canterbury on the same draft and believe me when a man’s time comes to die he will die, whether he is in the trenches or not, and strange to say he remarked several times in the tent before we left for the trenches: “Do you know I feel it in my bones I will get it this trip,” and I jokingly said: “Oh, no, it is only your imagination.”  The doctor told me that he died ten minutes after he was carried to the dressing station. He was unconscious all through as the bullet struck him in the forehead. He died a noble death as he was bombing between the German lines and our own and a stray bullet struck him. I know it must be a terrible blow to you. Perhaps you will be acquainted with the sadness before this reaches you. He was buried at Ration Farm, near Neuve Eglise, and his grave will be kept in order as many of the comrades are with him at the same spot. I will visit the place he was buried and Mr. Chambers and I will attend to it. I am on the bombing myself now, and it may be a couple of days before I can be free for a while. It may be my turn next, but if I ever return to Brantford again, I will visit you and explain more fully. I don’t know what more I can say. I will put my address here and if you wish me to do anything I will try and fulfill it.

Trooper H.A. Spencer
3rd Troop, B Squadron, R.C.D.
7839 1st Canadian Mounted Brigade, France

P.S. – I live on Mintern Ave, Eagle Place

BX October 16, 1915

A Memorial Service for Private E. Houser – Brantford hero who died on battlefield, honored in his death

“Neither count I my life dear unto myself,” an extract from Acts xx, 24, provided the text from which Rev. J.E. Peters preached a memorial sermon in Marlboro Street Methodist Church yesterday morning, in honor of Pte. Earl Houser, whose death on the field of battle was recently recorded. Private Houser was a member of the congregation of Marlboro Church at the time of his enlistment and the news of his untimely but honorable death came as a great shock to his many friends here. 
    
In his sermon, Rev. Mr. Peters emphasized the fact that death on the field of battle, in the service of King and Country, not only reflected to the undying memory of the departed, but served to stimulate the young manhood in later generations to bestir themselves to deeds of valor and bravery. Heroism, which resulted in death, was of a lasting duration in its influence, even though seeming vain and ineffectual.
    
Rev. Mr. Peters closed his remarks with a fitting tribute to the memory of Pte. Houser, and extended the sympathy of the members of his congregation to relatives and immediate friends of the dead soldier.