ERHAPS one of the most notable of the many brilliant war records held by local veterans is that of Captain Percy Brocklebank, of Cornwall. From the time Captain Brocklebank enlisted, a short time after the beginning of the Great War, until he was invalided home, his life was chock full of action.
       Captain Brocklebank was born in 1882 on the banks of the River Mersey, at Bromborough, Cheshire, England. After a ten-year course in school education, he entered a law office in Cheshire, where he studied law for five years. He spent some time in engineering works and shipbuilding yards in England, and came to Canada in the fall of 1910, with the late Captain Walter Hawthorn, R.N., who lost his life on the 1st of May, 1915, in an encounter with the enemy while in command of a minesweeping fleet.
       After twelve months spent in the store of the late Captain Hawthorn in Cornwall, he joined the staff of the Lally Lacrosse Factory, and was with this concern until he enlisted for overseas in September, 1915, with the 59th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, being in command of a platoon. Captain Brocklebank — then Lieutenant Brocklebank — left for overseas the latter part of March, 1916, and transferred to the 21st Battalion at the Ypres salient in France in June of the same year, where he was in command of N-9 Platoon of C Company. After a few months of trench life in the Ypres salient, he was moved to the Somme, where he engaged in the capture of the Sugar Refinery at Courcelette, after which he was given temporary command of " B " Company. Early in October of 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, with command of " D " Company, with which he took part in the celebrated snowstorm raid on the German trenches at Colonne, in January of 1917. Captain Brocklebank was given charge of the operations for the capture of Vimy Railway Station in April, 1917, and during this engagement he was severely wounded. He spent some time in various hospitals in Boulogne, London, Folkstone and Ramsgate, after which he returned to Canada in September of 1917 as Assistant Adjutant of the Troopship "Megantic." After a few months' sick leave he was transferred to the Officers' Reserve in February, 1918.
       Captain Brocklebank resumed his former connection with the Lally Lacrosse Company until December of 1918, when he took over the whole of the plant, buying modern machinery and turning the establishment into a sash, door and box factory. This business consists of the manufacture of all kinds of sashes, doors, mouldings and all the mill-work requirements of the building trade. A complete supply of roofing felts, beaver boards, glass and all building supplies are carried. Captain Brocklebank deserves and is receiving a large share of the patronage of local and out-of-town customers.