Henry Brydges Yates

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Date of death:

January 22nd, 1916

Cemetery:

Mount Royal Cemetery - Montreal, Quebec - Section: Pine Hillside, No. 164.

Commemorated at:

Grace Anglican Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth city:

Montreal, Quebec

Address at enlistment:

257 Peel Street, Montreal, Quebec

Next of kin address:

257 Peel Street, Montreal, Quebec

Trade or calling:

Physician

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

Circumstances of service: Killed

BX January 24, 1916

Onerous Work Cause of Death – Lieutenant Colonel Henry Brydges Yates, Formerly of Brantford Died in England – His Life For Country – Was Well-Known Imperial, Active in Public Life and Sports, and a Professor at McGill University

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Brydges Yates, on the staff of No. 3 General Hospital of McGill University, died in Ramsgate, England, Saturday. The colonel was taken ill in France.

Although over the age limit, he entered the service last summer with the McGill General Hospital staff, accompanied by his young son, Montagu. He served for months at one of the hospitals in France, and the onerous work completely shattered his constitution. Just before Christmas, he was invalided to England, where he rallied and was able to spend Christmas with his great personal friend, Sir Montagu Allan. Afterwards he was attacked with acute bronchitis, and after a plucky fight passed quietly away. His wife, son and daughter were at his bedside when he fell asleep.

Dr. Yates was born in Brantford in 1865, the youngest son of the well-known capitalist, Mr. Henry Yates, J.P. He was educated at Charterhouse in England and graduated B.A. from Jesus College, Cambridge. Returning to Canada he took up a brilliant medical course at McGill, from which university he secured his M.D. In 1896 he married Miss Alice Mary Bunting, daughter of Mr. C.W. Bunting, well-known editor for many years of the Toronto Mail. They took up their residence at Peel Street, Montreal, and their home was one of the centres of the social philanthropic and intellectual life of that city. He was professor of bacteriology at McGill University.

Dr. Yates always took a keen interest in military matters and early joined the 3rd Regiment, Victoria Rifles, of which he was major, after the war broke out being advanced to a lieutenant colonelcy. He and Mrs. Yates were very active in Red Cross work, Mrs. Yates being the president officer of the province of Quebec.

Dr. Yates was vice-president of the St. John Ambulance Association and an honorary vice-president of the Daughters of the Empire. He was a Knight of the Order of St. Olaf, conferred upon him by the King of Norway, and a Knight of Grace Order of St. John Jerusalem, conferred upon him by King George. He was an alderman of Montreal 1905 to 1910 and in fact took a very keen interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of Montreal and the country at large. He was a Canadian and Imperialist of the very highest type and his demise will be mourned by warm friends throughout the Dominion.

Dr. Yates' elder son died some few years ago whilst training for the navy.

He leaves a wife and two children, Miss Emily and Montagu, to mourn his death - serving so gloriously for King and Country. To them and his only remaining brother, Mr. Herbert R. Yates, and Mrs. H.R. Yates, Wynarden, city, the heartfelt sympathy of countless friends will go out in their great and sudden bereavement.

Note: Lieutenant Colonel Henry Brydges Yates Was Not Born in Brantford

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, 1914-1919

Yates, Henry Brydges, Lieut.-Col., Canadian Army Medical Corps, No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, Canadian Expeditionary Force, s. of Henry Yates, of Wynarden, Brantford, Ontario, Canada, by his wife, Emily, dau. Of H. Sapey, of co. Norfolk; b. Montreal, 10 May, 1865; educ. Charterhouse; Cambridge and McGill University, Montreal; received a commission in the 3rd Victoria Rifles of Canada as Surgeon-Lieut. In 1896, and remained with the regiment until 1914: then appointed A.D.M.S. 4th Divisional Area with the rank of Lieut.-Col.: joined No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, Canadian Army Medical Corps, Canadian Expeditionary Force, April, 1915 and proceeded to France the following June; died in Granville Canadian Special Hospital, Ramsgate, co. Kent, 22 Jan. 1916. He was a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and Knight of St. Olaf, Norway. He m. at Toronto, Canada, 11 Jan. 1896, Alice Mary, dau. Of the late C.W. Bunting, of Toronto, and had three children: Henry Raymond (deceased), b. 27 Oct. 1896; Christopher Monague, b. 15 June, 1899 and Emily, b. 28 Dec. 1897