ANOTHER NORWOOD BOY KILLED IN ACTION

Sgt. T. A. Searight Gives His Life in the Great Struggle For Freedom

1917

Official notice was received on Monday through the Department of Militia at Ottawa that another of Norwood’s young men, Sergt. Thomas Arthur Searight, youngest son of Mr. Charles J. Searight of this place, had given his life for King and Country on the battlefields of France.

Sgt. Searight was killed in action on August 15th, although the news only reached here on Labor Day.

The late Sergt. Searight enlisted in the Norwood platoon, 93rd
Battalion, and took the non-com. officers course at Peterboro during the winter of 1915 where he obtained his stripes, and in July 1916 went overseas with the Battalion. By his soldierly bearing and genial disposition he won the esteem of both his superior officers and the men under his charge, and it is not surprising to learn that he was later promoted to second in command of his platoon.

As a young man about town he was popular with all classes. Being of genial disposition, good physicque and high moral character he was generally regarded as one of the finest boys in the platoon.

At school he took a lively interest in Cadet instruction and was captain of the local corps. He was also active in church work among the young people and was a member of the choir of the Methodist Church and the Epworth League of which he was its president for a term.

The news of his death was a great shock to his parents and brother and sisters as well as to his many friends in the community.

As is customary, the flag at the town hall was placed at half mast as a tribute to the young soldier.