On 19 October 1916 the Newcastle Morning Herald reported “Still another ‘Soccer’ exponent to join in the great push – Searle, Newcastle’s sterling goalkeeper has enlisted, and goes into camp in a few days. One of the State’s best goalkeepers, and a product of the Brighton and Hove (Eng.) team, Aubrey Searle will take with him the good wishes of all. Searle made an effort to get his ‘cap’ in the Allied team some time back, but was rejected as unfit for the great game. However, at the second time of asking Aubrey was found sound in wind and limb, and will soon go forward to join his allied friends ‘Somewhere in France.’ Being a good centre-forward as well as goalkeeper, Searle should be found pushing well forward, towards the desired goal Berlin.”
In November 1917, Searle received severe gunshot wounds to the shoulder and leg. In 1918, the same paper reported, “Aubrey (now a Sergeant) arrived back in Newcastle on Tuesday night. Sergeant Searle, as a result of the many wounds he received in France, walks on crutches.”
He was invalided and departed England on 24 January 1918. He married Annie Lee in 1921 and died in Newcastle in 1962, aged 74.