Bertie-Clay was born in Chhindwara to Maj.-Gen. Edward Bertie Clay of the Bengal Staff Corps and Sarah Maria (née Attwood).

[9] During the First World War, on 21 June 1917, Bertie-Clay was put on a "Special Appointment", receiving pay equivalent to a Staff Lieutenant (1st class) whilst doing so.

[11][12] Bertie-Clay was awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 21 August 1919 at which point he had returned to the RGA and was once again seconded to the Indian Ordnance Department.

[13] Bertie-Clay died on 17 October 1938, having lived for some time at Villa La Pensée in Papara, Tahiti, Society Islands.

[15] The Mark II Lee-Metford bullet then in use with the British Army was shown, during the Chitral Expedition of 1895, to leave a small wound with insufficient stopping power to halt a determined charge, particularly when fired at close range.

[15][16] The Mark II bullet had a full metal jacket and did not deform upon hitting a person, allowing it to travel straight through tissue and bone without smashing it.