BX September 16, 1918
Mrs. Percy Mead, 48 Colborne Street, has received word that her husband, Private Percy Russell Mead is reported officially as missing since August 30. He was goal tender for the first professional hockey team Brantford had. He was a painter working for Mr. Grummet before enlisting with the 125th Battalion. Later he transferred to the first Canadian Battalion in France, and he was wounded April 9th, 1917, with gunshot in the right leg. Just recently went in the trenches again. Mrs. Mead lost her brother, Jack Hubert, killed in action on November 6, 1917. Her other brother Edward, was with her Husband.
BX October 18, 1918
Mrs. P. Mead, 48 Colborne Street, yesterday received official advice that her husband, Pte. Percy Russell Mead; was a prisoner of war. He was previously reported missing on Aug. 30 last. Mrs. Mead has not yet been advised what camp her husband has been taken to. He left here with the 125th Battalion.
BX December 12, 1918
In the list of casualties from Ottawa this morning Percy Russell Mead, 24 Campbell Street, is reported among the repatriated prisoners, also Alexander Inglis McNicol, 167 Rawdon Street.
BX January 31, 1919
Prisoners of War Repatriated, Reach Home – Privates Albert Victor Stuart and Percy Russell Mead were in Hun hands
Private Mead’s Story
Private Mead, who will be remembered as the former goal tender of the Brantford pro hockey team was taken at Arras August 30, 1918. With four others they were completely surrounded and cut off. Pte. Meade belonged to the First Battalion. When examined with other prisoners, he had a unique experience. The German corporal, who spoke perfectly good English, asked him if he was from Ontario.
“Are you from Brantford?” was another question, and Mead nearly fell over when he was asked if he knew Charlie Slemin. Then the German corporal told him that he had worked in a Brantford factory for ten years, and recalled several things which happened here, and which Mead remembered well, including a miniature riot one night over the arrest of a drunk on Dalhousie Street. This information staggered the Brantford prisoner, and he thought momentarily he was among friends. The German corporal said he could give him nothing to eat because he had nothing himself. He handed out some cigarettes, and said that was all he could do. Incidentally, he remarked that he was coming back to Brantford after the old job after the war was over.