Calberry, Gordon Frank

Gordon Frank Calberry was born on 6 February 1893 in Methuen Township, Peterborough County, Ontario. He was the son of Frank Calberry, a day labourer, and Sabina Calberry.

A labourer, Calberry enlisted in the 39th Canadian Infantry Battalion in Peterborough on 8 May 1915. He arrived in England on 3 July 1915. After undergoing training with the 39th Battalion, he was transferred to the 25th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles) on 31 October 1915. Soon after, he was shipped to France, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot in Rouelles on 2 November 1915. Six days later, Calberry joined the 25th Battalion in the field.

On 12 July 1916, Calberry’s skull was fractured by a sniper’s bullet during the Battle of St. Eloi. He was initially treated and stabilized at No. 13 General Hospital in Boulogne, France, before being shipped to England on 17 July 1916 for further treatment at No. 3 Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. One month later, Calberry was transferred to King's Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Bushy Park, Middlesex to convalesce, after which he was moved to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey.

Calberry was discharged from Woodcote Park on 5 October 1916 and sent to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre. He was rotated through a number of reserve battalions in England between October 1916 and late April 1917 as he slowly regained combat fitness.

After convalescing and retraining, Calberry rejoined the 25th Battalion in France on 7 June 1917. Soon afterwards, on 24 August 1917, he was promoted to lance corporal. He was then promoted to corporal on 6 February 1918.

Calberry died on the first day of the Battle of Amiens (8 August 1918) while being treated by the 9th Canadian Field Ambulance for a shell wound to the back he had received earlier that day.

Gordon Frank Calberry is buried in Heath Cemetery, Harbonnières, France.