Cause and Place of Death: Killed in Action

BX April 10, 1918

Captain Joseph Benjamin Stratford Killed – Second of Five Sons of Mrs. Stratford to Pay Supreme Penalty

That Captain Joseph Stratford had been killed in action on the Western Front on April 2 was the sad intelligence received in the city today by friends of the family of Mrs. Stratford. Capt. Joseph is the second son of five, all of whom have seen service in the present war, to make the extreme sacrifice in the cause of the empire. Lieut. George Stratford was killed last year with the Princess Pats in which he had enlisted as a private and won his commission on the field.

Captain Joseph Stratford enlisted here with the Brant Dragoons after having taken a course at the R.M.C. He left Toronto with the C.M.R. in February 1915, and had seen all kinds of service on the Western Front. The Fort Garry Horse to which he belonged, has distinguished itself recently fighting mounted and dismounted, and filling the gap everywhere. The unit has recently been several times mentioned in despatches and it was doubtless in some of the recent fighting of the above nature that Capt. Stratford went down in action.

The other boys in the service are Lieut. Arthur, who joined the Bedfords at the outbreak of the war and who fought at Ypres and other places, until he was twice wounded. He is now a captain serving in East Africa with the King’s African Rifles.

Lieut. Harold Stratford was invalided home some time ago, and is at Gravenhurst. Lieut. Jack Stratford, who has been wounded, enlisted at Calgary and is still engaged on the Western Front. Many Brantford friends will extend to Mrs. Stratford, who is now living in Toronto, their most sincere sympathy in her hour of great sacrifice.

BX April 11, 1918

STRATFORD – killed in action in France, 30th March, 1918, Joseph Benjamin Stratford aged 28 years, Captain Fort Garry Horse. Dearly beloved son of Mary Elizabeth and the late Joseph Stratford of “Idlewild” Brantford.

BX May 28, 1918

Captain Stratford – Was Struck by a Shell and Died Without Regaining Consciousness

The relatives of the late Captain Joseph Benjamin Stratford, Fort Garry Horse, have received letters from his commanding and fellow officers in which reference is made to his death during the recent severe fighting in France in April last. It appears that Capt. Stratford as struck by a shell and died a few minutes later without regaining consciousness. His comrades buried him in the little village cemetery at Dommartin, Capt. (Rev.) Builick conducting the services. One of Capt. Stratford’s brother officers states that he died for his country like a soldier and a man.

“I am very glad to hear this morning that he has been awarded the Military Cross for bravery.”
    
Col. R.W. Paterson, O.C., wrote:

“I was talking with him only a few minutes before his death. He was bright and happy at his being put for a decoration as a reward for his splendid work and magnificent courage on several occasions during the recent severe fighting.”

Col. Paterson wrote that Capt. Stratford proved a very brave man under the most adverse conditions, and had won the respect and admiration of all the officers and men associated with him.

BX June 10, 1929

Memorial Tablet To Three Brothers Unveiled at Grace – Unique and Impressive Service Held Sunday Morning – Also Occasion of Church Parade of 10th Brant Dragoons

A service unique in the history of Grace Church and perhaps without precedent in the province was conducted on Sunday morning when the rector, the Venerable Archdeacon J.B. Fotheringham unveiled a beautiful memorial tablet to three brothers, Harold John, Joseph Benjamin and George Stacey, sons of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Stratford, all three officers in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, two being killed n action and the third passing away after being invalided home.  Appropriately, at the same service there were present the officers commanding, officers and all ranks of the Tenth Brant Dragoons, attending the annual church parade of that unit.

The Inscription

The tablet, beautifully executed in brass, bore the inscription:

“In memory of these brothers, sons of Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Stratford.

“George Stacey, killed in action, Passchendaele, November 17, 1917, aged 25 years.  Buried Passchendaele, France.  Enlisted June 1915, 2nd Universities company, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.  Joined battalion in France August, 1915.  Wounded Sanctuary Wood, June 1916.  Appointed Lieutenant before rejoining battalion May 1917.  Served on Somme, Armentieres, Vimy, Lens, Hill 70 and Passchendaele fronts.

“Joseph Benjamin, killed in action Bois de Sencat, April 2, 1918, aged 28 years.  Buried Dommartin, France.  Appointed lieutenant 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles, January 6, 1915.  Promoted to captain before transferring to Fort Garry Horse in England.  Proceeded to France with the regiment February 25, 1916.  Awarded Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while commanding squadron at Bois des Essarts, March 26, 1918.

“Harold John, died at Gravenhurst Ont., August 6, 1927, aged 41 years.  Buried at Brantford, Canada.  Appointed lieutenant, 128th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, December 14, 1915.  Proceeded overseas, August 6, 1916.  Incapacitated during training at Witley, England.  Invalided home March 22, 1917.

“Who fights for freedom goes with joyous tread.”

The tablet was unveiled for Mrs. Stratford by His Honor Judge A.D. Hardy and dedicated by the rector in the simple, impressive ritual of the Anglican Church.

In preaching the memorial sermon, Archdeacon Fotheringham made reference to the unique character of the service.  The occasion, he declared was one that called for silence rather than words and any words that might be spoken were but an attempt to express feelings that were deep.  There was a unity in love such as these men had – a love of home, of fellows and of the empire.  And there was a oneness that came not only in a common love but in a common life and finally there was the oneness of sacrifice.  So had these three brothers been one in companionship, one in comradeship and love, one in life and service and one in sacrifice.  “They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they were not divided.”

During the service the choir rendered Woodward’s beautiful anthem, “Crossing the Bar.”  Following the dedication the “Last Post.” And “Reveille” was sounded and the hymn “O Valiant Hearts” sung.  During the offertory the band of the Tenth Brant Dragoons played “Serenade” and later the National Anthem.

The rector was assisted in the service by Capt. the Rev. Joseph Tully, chaplain of the regiment, and Rev. C. Hallowell, new rector of St. James.