“Come and kiss me, mother,” she heard Morris say…

The sad story of the Searle brothers is brought into sharp relief in the news story below. Two men, far from their native land, join the Canadian Army and the eldest, William, lands in England the very day his mother leaves for Canada. It makes one wonder what the intent was? Was there a miscommunication about dates and postings between the mother and the eldest son? What ever the case, the mother missed the opportunity to see her sons and later, as described in the Star news story, she has a “presentiment” that something is wrong with one, or both of her sons.

This is not the first case a news story has related this aspect of para-normal experiences when family members have ‘felt’ something that presaged an event.

Mrs. Searle appears lost to history. She, like her sons, comes to Canada only to experience the loss of one of her sons and the wounding of another. The story reminds us of the strength of connection between a parent and their children.

MOTHER HAD PRESENTIMENT
In a Dream Mrs. Searle Heard Voice of Wounded Son.

On the day that Pte. Wm. Lyon [Lywnn] Searle landed in England, his mother left for Canada. She had not seen him for four years. Now he is reported missing since April 9 [1917]. On the day he entered Bramshott Camp, his brother, Pte. Morris. [Maurice] A. Searle, left for France. Now Morris is reported wounded. No particulars in either case have reached the mother from Ottawa; possibly they have gone to her former address in England. But in the dead of night two weeks ago. there came an intimation to her, “Come and kiss me, mother,” she heard Morris say; and she has been ever since expecting the ill news which the Star brought her today. Both boys have been in Canada for years. Morris was 18. William 19 years of age. The former worked for the T. Eaton Company, the latter for the Wm. Davies Co. Morris went overseas last August. William went after training in Bermuda with a Lindsay battalion.

Source: Toronto Star – June 18th, 1917