Rushden Soldier Injured - Pte AR Sears in Hospital

Mr and Mrs Wm Sears, of 82 Wellingborough-road, Rushden, have received a field postcard from their son Pte A R Sears, of the 2nd Northants Regt., to say that he has been wounded and admitted into hospital. Since then they have received a further postcard which, judging by the postmark, was posted in England at Warrington but the name of the hospital is not given.

Rushden Victim of the War - Private Robert Sears - Enlisted at the Age of Sixteen - Once Wounded, Then Shell-Shock, Now Killed

We deeply regret to report that Mrs William Sears, 82 Wellingborough-road, Rushden, received news yesterday morning that her son, 14403, Pte Robert Sears, of the Northants Regiment, was killed in action on August 16th. The late Pte Sears, who had served three years with His Majesty's Forces, had, prior to the date on which he met his death, been in hospital twice, once with wounds, and once through shell-shock. He was but 16 years of age when he joined the Colours, and would have been 20 on October 23rd had he lived.

The late Pte Sears was a soldier every inch of him, and was greatly respected by his comrades. Much sympathy is felt with his parents in their sore bereavement.

Prior to enlistment, the late Pte Sears worked for Messrs. Nurrish & Pallett, boot manufacturers, Rushden, and as a boy he passed through the Primitive Methodist Sunday School.

Mr and Mrs Sears have another son serving with the Colours, viz., Gunner Edwards Sears, of the R.F.A., who is in France.

Rushden Victim of the War - Private Alfred Robert Sears - Killed in Action - Brother's Narrow Escape

In our issue of August 31st we reported that Pte Alfred Robert Sears, 14403, of the Northants Regiment was killed in action on August 16th. He was the son of Mr and Mrs William Sears, of 82 Wellingborough-road, Rushden. Deceased who was 19 years of age (had he lived he wound have been 20 on October 23rd), joined the Colours when he was only 16 years of age. He enlisted on September 1st, 1914, within a month of the outbreak of war. He was sent to France early in 1915, and was wounded at Aubers Ridge on May 9th, 1915, as soon as our troops made he advance. On June 9th, he was brought to England, and he remained in this country until February, 1916, when he returned to the front, and he remained there until his death. On July 9th, 1916, he took part in the Battle of the Somme, and was buried in a shell explosion. He was taken into hospital suffering from shell shock, but was not sent back to England. He was marked for a ten days' leave in England, but, unhappily was killed a week before the leave would have been taken.

Before enlisting, Pte Sears worked for Messrs. Nurrish & Pallett. As a lad he was a scholar in the Primitive Methodist Sunday School.

Mr and Mrs Sears have another son serving with the Colours - Gunner Edward Ernest Sears, R.F.A., who is in France. Like his brother, Gunner Sears has had the experience - about two months ago - of being buried by the explosion of a shell. With 13 others, he was in a dug-out when a shell burst among them. Seven of the party were killed, five were wounded, and one sustained shell-shock. The other member of the party, Gunner Sears, was hit in the back and neck, but was not seriously injured, and he was back in the line in less than a week.

Pte J H Shipman, Northants Regt., now a prisoner of war in Germany, is a brother-in-law of Gunner Sears and the late Pte A R Sears.

The Sleep of Death - Rushden Bombardier Killed

Mrs. Sears, of 13, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, has received news from a chaplain that her husband, Bombardier Ernest Edward Sears, of the R.F.A., was killed by a bomb on Oct. 9th. He writes: “You may have heard by now of the very sad death of your husband, Bombardier E. E. Sears, who was killed by a bomb on Oct. 9th. He and four of his comrades were all killed together instantly while they were asleep, and suffered no pain, which is some comfort. He will be greatly missed by all the officers and men of his battery. I buried your husband near Ponchaux, and we put up a cross about his grave.” Bombardier Sears, who was 28 years of age, enlisted on Oct. 6th, 1915, and went to France on Jan. 16th, 1916. He was gassed on Aug. 9th this year, and lost sight and speech for a few days. He, however, did not come over to England. Before joining up he was employed as a pressman at Messrs. Nurrish and Pallett’s factory, Rushden. His parents reside at 82, Wellingborough-road, Rushden. Another son, Pte. Robert Sears, Northants Regt., was killed on August 16th, 1917; and another, Pte. Tom Sears, M.G.C., is at South Ripon, after being gassed and having trench fever.

Rushden Brothers Killed in the War

Official news has now been received of the death in action of Bombardier Ernest Edwards Sears, RFA, aged 28, husband of Mrs E E Sears of 13, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, and son of Mrs W Sears, of 82, Wellingborough-road, Rushden. He was killed in France on Otcober 8th.

Mrs Sears has lost another son in the war, Pte R Sears, aged 20, who was killed in action on August 16th, 1917.

A brother of Mrs E E Sears, Pte Leonard Cox, son of Mrs R Cox, of 4 Dayton-street, Rushden, is reported wounded and missing.