We Remember

Harry Baird

Harry Baird
Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
10556
Unit at enlistment: 
4th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Wounded: 
Yes
Cemetery: 
Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario
Commemorated at: 
Wellington Street Methodist Church
Birth country: 
Canada
Birth county: 
Wentworth
Birth city: 
Beverley Township, Ontario
Address at enlistment: 
120 George Street, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
120 George Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Railway man
Employer: 
Grand Trunk Railway
Religious denominations: 
Wesleyan
Marital status: 
Single
Age at enlistment: 
23
Image gallery: 

Letters and documents

BX October 18, 1916

That their son, Private Harry Baird, who has been in the trenches for over two years without being wounded, has at last been wounded with shrapnel and admitted to hospital, was the word received last evening by Mr. and Mrs. George Baird of 120 George Street. Pte. Baird is a nephew of Mrs. James Young and Mrs. Robertson, 55 Chatham Street. Before donning the khaki he was a brakeman on the Grand Trunk railway. He enlisted with the 25th Brant Dragoons here and left in August, 1914 at Valcartier, being attached to and going overseas with the 4th Battalion. For some time since last Christmas he was sick in No. 2 General hospital, London, but returned to the trenches about two months ago. He was 23 years of age.

BX October 31, 1916

That he was wounded in his arm and had his left hand shattered on Sunday morning, October 8, in an advance, was the word received today from Private Harry Baird of the 4th Battalion, now in the Clearing hospital at Eastleigh, by his aunt, Mrs. Ed Robertson of 55 Chatham Street. Pte. Baird was formerly a brakeman on the Grand Trunk railway, and left for Valcartier in August, 1914. The report of his having been wounded was given in The Expositor a few days ago. The letter, which was dated October 13, was as follows:

“Just a line to let you know that I have arrived in England and am at present feeling far better, for this place is sure far safer than France. No doubt you will have received the card I wrote from France telling you about being wounded.

“I was hit last Sunday morning in the advance. I have got a small wound in my arm and my left hand is shattered a little. The hand is very sore at present, but don’t worry – they say that I won’t lose any fingers. I guess I will be in the hospital for a few months. I expect to be sent to a hospital in London, for this place is only a clearing station. They send you from here as near your home as possible, but having nobody here, I am trying to get sent to London.”

In closing he remarks that he does not feel very much like writing and asks to be remembered to all friends.

BX August 28, 1917

Is Returning Home

That her nephew, Private Harry Baird was returning home, was the substance of a cablegram received yesterday by Mrs. G. Robertson of 55 Chatham Street. Pte. Baird went overseas with the 1st contingent three years ago this week. He was at the front with the “Mad Fourth” Battalion and was wounded last October, and as a result lost some of his fingers on one hand. Before enlisting he was a brakeman on the G.T.R.

BX September 29, 1917

Returned Invalided Soldiers

The following Brantford men are expected to leave Halifax on Saturday, Sept. 29 by the intercolonial and Grand Trunk. They may reach Toronto Sunday Morning, Sept. 30. Cpl. E. Van Sickle, Privates H. Reeve, W. O’Heron, E. Hall, H. Baird, C. Wells.

BX October 3, 1917

Veterans Were Not Met Here – No Word of Their Coming had Preceded Them – Were Unwelcomed

As a result of a laxness somewhere no word was received here yesterday as to the time of arrival of the expected party of returned veterans, so they arrived home unwelcomed. A deputation of returned soldiers, members of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission and citizens, met the 7.33 train from Toronto but the men were all home by that time. Seven men in all arrived, four of them at 6.52 and the other three during the afternoon.

The party was not long held in Toronto as they just reached there at noon yesterday. The London bunch went through Brantford about the middle of the afternoon and a few relatives of the men expected were on hand but no Brantford men came with the party and the expectation was that they would arrive as usual at 7.33.

The men who returned yesterday are as far as is known the following: Corp. E. Vansickle, Private Harry Baird, H. Reeve, W. O’Heron, and E. Hall. In this party Lance Corp. Vansickle had probably suffered the most. He had been wounded 23 times at Vimy Ridge, as the result of a bursting shell. Pte. Harry Baird, who before enlisting was a brakeman on the G.T.R., has been at the front for three years. He is also badly off, having suffered seven wounds and is still suffering from shock.

Ald. M.M. MacBride returned from Toronto on the same train as the veterans last evening and he was thanked for assisting one home with his baggage. One of the veterans who came in last evening stated that he saw more lights in Brantford than he has seen in three years. He also remarked on the pleasure the men took in cleaning up huge platters of white bread when they reached Halifax. White bread and butter were great luxuries overseas and were enjoyed to the full on the return.

A veteran states that the Bantam Battalion has been found unfit for active service, conditions owing to their size, as a result of which, he states about half of them are returning to Canada, the balance having been absorbed by the Engineers. 

BX December 3, 1934

Harry Baird

The death of Harry Baird, 129 Marlborough Street, occurred early Sunday morning at the residence following a brief illness.  Mr. Baird was for a number of years and employee of the B. and B. Department of the Canadian National Railway and was an active member of the Brantford Branch of the Canadian Legion and Mohawk Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  He enlisted with the Brant Dragoons here, later being transferred to eh “Mad Fourth” Battalion overseas.  Mr. Baird was well known in the city and highly esteemed by those with whom he came in contact.  Left to mourn his loss, beside his widow are two sons, Douglas and Lloyd, at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Baird, Lynden; two brothers, Charles, New York City, and Kenneth, Caledonia and a sister, Mrs. C. Rose, Owen Sound.  The funeral will be conducted Tuesday with a private service at the residence and a public service at Beckett’s Funeral Home, Brant Avenue.  Interment will be made in Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX December 5, 1934

Harry Baird

In the presence of a very large gathering of relatives and friends, including many war comrades, the funeral took place Tuesday afternoon of Harry Baird, 129 Marlborough Street.  A private service was conducted at his home, a public service at the Beckett Funeral Home, and interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery.  Rev. W.K. Roberts, Pastor of First Baptist Church, conducted the services and was assisted by Rev. E.P. Laws, Pastor of Central Baptist Church and Rev. E.C. McCullagh, of Alexandra Presbyterian Church, who is Chaplain of the Brantford Branch of the Canadian Legion.  An I.O.O.F. service at the funeral home, and at the graveside, was in charge of A.E. Drake, N.G., and Roy Sloat, Chaplain, representing Mohawk Lodge, I.O.O.F.  Many beautiful floral tributes were received.  At the cemetery “Last Post,” and “Reveille” were sounded by Bugler B. Porter of the Canadian Legion.  The pallbearers were two representatives of the I.O.O.F., G.W. Havilland and V.C. Grove’ two of the Fourth Battalion, E. Mercer and W. Hall; and two of the C.N.R. employees, P. McFedries, Mimico and A. Davidson, Toronto.

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