Percy was killed in action on 2nd December 1918 some 5 miles behind the front lines by a stray shell. The 2nd/1st Field Ambulance war diary entry for 2nd December 1916 and a letter to Percy's parents from his Commanding Officer and re-printed in De Ruvigney's Roll of Honour and the Birmingham Mail on 19 De 1916 are transcribed below.
War Diary Entry
Aveluy Post - Dec 2nd: Routine work, construction of Tramway commenced, for carriage of patients from Main Road to Receiving Tent, the pathway and steps being dangerous is frosty weather. Dug out for Hospital continued, off Main Road, hewing out of the solid chalk.
No 1832 PTE Goode. W.H. evacuated to Casualty Clearing Station.
T4/248654 Driver Sears. P. No. 2. Coy 61st Divisional Train att. 2/1st So.Mid.Fld.Amb killed
Aveluy Post - Dec 3rd: T4/248654 Driver Sears buried at Aveluy Cemetery
Letter from Commanding Officer
He was killed instantaneously this morning by a German shell, which exploded close by him, as he was taking a horse ambulance waggon out to bring in some sick and wounded men. He was riding the leading horses – we use four horses to each waggon here – and both his horses were killed by the same shell. This happened in the main street of a small village five miles behind our front line, a place where, in the ordinary course of events, one would expect to be safe, but with the long-range guns that are now in use there is no safety anywhere, although this was really a chance shot.
His friend, Lander, was riding the other pair – wheelers – and he was wounded, though not very badly, and the RAMC Orderly on the box was also hit by flying fragments. The occurrence has cast a great gloom over the whole unit, officers and men alike, with all of whom your son was a general favourite, and if it is any satisfaction to you or his mother to know the details, I may tell you that the shell fell less than half a mile from our camp. We brought his body back here in a car, and here it lies with us to-night. To-morrow he will be buried in our presence in the village cemetery, by our senior chaplain, and all the officers and men will attend.
He was one of our hardest-working and happiest boys, always cheerful and apparently liking his work, though often having to suffer great inconvenience, discomfort and hardship. I had a chat with him last night at 9pm, when I was going round to see how all the men were housed. He assured me with his usual smile that he was quite all right, and that I need not worry about him and his mates, as they were well able to look after themselves.
Lieut-Col George Mackie - 2nd December 1916.
