113092 Pte. Horace Blake, was born in London, England on 13th January 1898, the son of James and Amelia Blake. Horace had a twin brother, 113093, Pte Leonard Blake, who he served alongside in the First World War.
Both brothers emigrated with the family to Canada on 27th March 1913, traveling aboard the SS Sicilian of the Allan Line. Horace and Leonard had their main address in Peterborough, Ontario, and Horace served in the part-time Active Militia with the 57th Peterborough Rangers. His civilian career was Shoemaker by trade. He likely gained quite a bit of basic military skill, and this would undoubtedly serve him well when the outbreak of the First World War called him to serve.
In 1915, Horace turned 18. Voluntarily enlisting on 19th August 1915, Horace and Leonard initially both attested into the 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles "B" Squadron and started their wartime service with that regiment. According to attestation papers, Horace measured out to be 5 feet 5 inches tall.
In the divisional restructuring that followed at the end of December 1915, they were transferred into the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles on 2nd January 1916, with whom they went into action with in Belgium. Horace was regarded as a good soldier on his discharge record, and his service record bears no entries regarding punishments or stoppages.
Horace and Leonard served honourably with the 4th CMR as members of "A" Company. Both took part in the 'Battle of Mount Sorrel" on 2nd June 1916, the darkest day of the regiment. Horace managed to be one of the lucky ones who survived that terrible engagement, but brother Leonard unfortunately did not survive Mount Sorrel. There is no doubt that the loss of his twin brother would have had such a tremendously lasting impact on Horace. As the war progressed through 1916, Horace continued to see action with the regiment. During the "Battle of the Somme", Horace was wounded in the Regina Trench Action, and as a result of his injury developed a case of Trench Fever, causing him great pain for the remainder of his service.
Horace was discharged on compassionate grounds on 1st August 1917 at the discharge depot in Quebec. His medical report for an invalided soldier records:
"Man states that he had Trench fever in France in 1916 was invalided to England but did not take any treatment while there. Stayed at W. Sandling and Buxton Camps till his return to Canada. Has had medical treatment on 5 or 6 occasions by civilian physicians since his discharge. After discharge he worked for the Wylis Overland Co. Toronto for 5 months and during that time lost 3 weeks because of pain in back and arms. Returned to Peterborough and worked on grinding machine in shell factory one month. Work was too heavy for him and was given shell inspecting at which he remained about 2½ months. During this time he lost 3 days. Note - There are no documents available regarding this man's service overseas or of his state of health while so employed or at the time of his discharge"”.
This report was approved by the Medical Officers in Kingston, Ontario.
After the war, Horace married Nora Antrobus on 18th April 1925, and they had two sons and a daughter according to Ancestry records. Horace passed away on 4th May 1965 in Scarborough, Ontario, and he is survived by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. We will remember them.
Biography written by his great grandson, 2nd Lieutenant Jimmy H. Birtwell, Canadian Armed Forces
"The torch be yours to hold it high."