In memory of PRIVATE DAVID BARCLAY BROWN, Reg #426044

David Barclay Brown, or Barclay as he was called, was born to Sarah Angeline and David Bert Brown in 1895. When Barclay was older he lived on his family farm near Orangeville.

In 1914, his world - the whole world - was overturned by war. Just six days before Christmas, David took a leap into the unknown and enlisted.

At five foot five inches and with a 36-inch chest, he was neither tall nor big but he managed to live nearly two long years in the war.

Often his thoughts must have strayed to the farm fields of his home in Ontario. He left three brothers at home with his parents (his sister had died years ago only four days after her birth). Finally, in October 1916, Barclay was reported missing, then dead.

Barclay did not just die in the war but lived in the war, too.

The final two years of his life were spent almost as far away from home and as close to hell as possible. His death just over 90 years ago was preceded and followed by unimaginable numbers of deaths, yet this one man's death affected many people in our hometown of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. To know that I most likely have walked the same streets, seen the same views as a man that young and that brave is more haunting and more inspiring than you could ever imagine.

On the fields of the Somme, softened with the blood of men, too young, too good to die, Barclay was recommended for the Victoria Cross for bravery, only to also become one of those men, too young, too good to die.

Author's note: As I was doing my research I found that very distantly I am related to Barclay. Today his name stands at the Vimy Memorial where each and every one of us will also stand this April.