SAPPER RICHARD SEAWARD
7802 – 2nd Tunnelling Company
London, England was the birthplace of Richard Seaward on September 9, 1884 the son of John and Elizabeth Amy Seaward. In 1901 the family were residing at Dale Road, West Ham, Essex, England and consisted of John (61) bootmaker, Elizabeth (58), and children Mathew A (22) labourer, Mary A, (20) dressmaker, Richard (17) coalie labourer and Elizabeth A. (14) with all children born in London.
Richard came to Australia working as a Fireman or Trimmer on the ship and continued to work on coastal steamers during his time in Australia. A list of recorded voyages is below. It appears that he came ashore in Townsville as his address in 1917 was General Post Office, Townsville, Queensland.
At thirty-two years of age he enlisted at the Townsville Recruiting Office to join the A.I.F. on July 10, 1917. After passing his medical examination, Forms of Attestation were completed which show he was 168cms (5ft 6ins) in height, weighed 62.7kgs (138lbs) with a chest expansion between 87-92cms (34-36ins). His complexion was dark, with brown eyes of fair eyesight and dark hair. Religion was given as Roman Catholic and his mother Mrs Elizabeth Amy Seaward of 30 Dale Street, Canning Town, London, England was nominated as next-of-kin. He was sworn in that day and ready to depart for camp.
Basic training commenced with the Pioneer Battalion at Enoggera, Brisbane, Qld after a medical examination on July 17, 1917, declared him Dentally Fit and remained in training until August 2, 1917. The following day he went to the Miners’ Camp (1st M.D.) and took Home Leave from August 3 to August 5 returning to camp until August 8. He was transferred to the Miners’ Reinforcements Camp at Seymour, Victoria moving on August 28 to Bendigo for further Military instruction.
The discipline and restrictions of Military life were difficult to conform to, resulting in several Regimental Breaches of Conduct while at Bendigo.
Misconduct:29/9/17 Disobeying an order and resisting arrest.
Punishment:5 days C.B. [confined to barracks]
Misconduct:4/10/17
(1) AWL 6¼ hours
(2) Behaved in a disorderly manner
(3) Drunk
(4) Escaping when confined
Punishment:14 days Detention
Misconduct:23/10/17
(1)AWL from 12pm for 11¾ hours
(2) Disobeying an order from NCO
Punishment:1 day Detention
Training concluded at Bendigo on November 2, 1917 and resumed at Seymour Camp for a further three weeks until November 20. One Breach of Conduct occurred:
Misconduct:7/11/17 Drunk
Punishment:3 days C.B.
He was assigned the Regimental number 7802 in the rank of Sapper and placed with the May Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies. His Will was written and attached to his file in preparation for departure abroad.
The Reinforcements went to Broadmeadows Camp, Melbourne, Vic for an overnight stay on November 20 in preparation for departure the next day.
The troopship HMAT A71 Nestor departed Port Melbourne, Vic on November 21, 1917 with 168 Reinforcements on board. On November 30, 1917 another offence was committed:
Misconduct: Disobeying a lawful command given by a superior officer.
Punishment: 2 days Physical Training.
The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked proceeding to the Australian Infantry Camp the same day.
On January 9, 1918 the Reinforcements left Port Said aboard the H.M.T. B:102 Kashgar arriving at Taranto, Italy on January 20. In Italy entrained at Taranto on January 24 and reached Cherbourg, France at the end of the month. On January 31, 1918 the transport H.M.T. C.O.168 conveyed them across the English Channel where they disembarked at Southampton, England on February 2, 1918. Another entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse for further training.
The Reinforcements proceeded to France on March 15, 1918 via Southampton and marched into the Aust. General Base Depot at Rouelles the next day. Four days later Sapper Seaward left the Aust Corps Depot for the 2nd Tunnelling Company and taken on strength on March 24, 1917.
On September 28, 1917 was taken to 70th Casualty Clearing Station being admitted with influenza then transferred to Havre on A.T. 21 and admitted to 2nd General Hospital diagnosed with influenza. On October 2, 1917 was sent to 1st Convalescent Depot to recuperate from his influenza bout and was discharged to A.G.B.D. on October 18, 1917. He left Rouelles to return to his unit six days later and rejoined on October 28, 1917.
After the Armistice the unit remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of the area by clearing roads and repairing bridges or defusing booby traps left by the enemy.
On March 17, 1919 he went on leave to England remaining until March 31 and rejoined his unit on April 3, 1919. They marched from the Aust. No 1 Base Depot and returned to England on April 28, 1919 via Southampton. On arrival marched in to No 2 Group at Sutton Veny and Sapper Seaward left for London the following day.
After demobilisation he was discharged at A.I.F. Headquarters in London on May 1, 1919. He received the Silver War Badge and entitled to 2 Blue Chevrons for overseas service. Twenty-three pounds sterling was received by him being his Active and Deferred Pay entitlements.
His intended address was 30 Dale Road, Canning Town, London, the address of his next-of-kin.
On March 1, 1920 his Will was detached and sent to England.
For serving one year and 296 days war service, Sapper 7802 Richard Seaward, 2nd Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (2573) and the Victory Medal (2573) the latter inscribed and issued from Australia House, London.
There is a death registered at West Ham, Essex for Richard Seaward (born 1884) who died in June, 1960 aged 76 years.
The voyages he worked onbetween 1910 and 1917 are listed below:
DATE / NAME / VOYAGE / SHIP / AGE / OCCUPATION12/12/1910 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Mimiro / 28 / Fireman
9/01/1911 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Burrumbee / 27 / Trimmer
17/05/1911 / R. Seaward / Adelaide - Sydney / Pillarra / 27 / Trimmer
30/10/1911 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wodonga / 28 / Fireman
16/03/1912 / R. Seaward / Vancouver - Sydney / Marama / 28 / Trimmer
19/04/1912 / R. Seaward / Auckland - Sydney / Wimmera / 28 / Fireman
6/06/1912 / R. Seaward / Woodlark Is - Sydney / Matunga / 28 / Fireman
16/08/1912 / R. Seaward / Auckland - Sydney / Maheno / 28 / Trimmer
26/09/1912 / R. Seaward / Cairns - Sydney / Marloo / 28 / Fireman
3/10/1912 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Marloo / 28 / Fireman
22/10/1912 / R. Seaward / Rockhampton - Bne - Syd / Burwali / 28 / Trimmer
22/11/1912 / R. Seaward / Auckland - Sydney / Maheno / 28 / Trimmer
16/12/1912 / R. Seaward / Strahan - Sydney / Karitane / 28 / Trimmer
3/01/1913 / R. Seaward / Strahan - Sydney / Karitane / 28 / Fireman
19/01/1913 / R. Seaward / Devonport - Sydney / Karitane / 28 / Fireman
17/02/1913 / R. Seaward / Devonport - Sydney / Karitane / 28 / Fireman
5/05/1913 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Levuka / 28 / Fireman
14/07/1913 / R. Seaward / Fremantle - Sydney / Indarra / 28 / Trimmer
18/08/1913 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Trimmer
8/09/1913 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Trimmer
6/10/1913 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Trimmer
13/10/1913 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Trimmer
1/11/1913 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Trimmer
3/11/1913 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Trimmer
21/11/1913 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Cooma / 28 / Fireman
8/01/1914 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wollowra / 28 / Fireman
12/02/1914 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Newcastle - Syd / Mallina / 28 / Fireman
27/02/1914 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Newcastle - Syd / Mallina / 28 / Fireman
13/03/1914 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Newcastle - Syd / Mallina / 28 / Fireman
30/03/1914 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Fireman
20/04/1914 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Fireman
27/04/1914 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Wyreema / 28 / Fireman
25/05/1914 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Kanowna / Passenger
30/07/1914 / R. Seaward / R'ton - Bne - Newcastle - Syd / Mallina / 30 / Fireman
14/08/1914 / R. Seaward / R'ton - Bne - Newcastle - Syd / Mallina / 30 / Fireman
24/09/1914 / R. Seaward / Westport - Sydney / Mallina / 30 / Fireman
17/10/1914 / R. Seaward / Auckland - Sydney / Riverina / 30 / Trimmer
31/10/1914 / R. Seaward / Auckland - Sydney / Riverina / 30 / Trimmer
29/01/1915 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Peregrine / 30 / Trimmer
20/05/1915 / R. Seaward / Solomon Is - Sydney / Mindini / 30 / Trimmer
9/08/1915 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Gabo / 31 / Trimmer
23/08/1915 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Gabo / 31 / Trimmer
16/09/1915 / R. Seaward / Cairns - Sydney / Rupara / 31 / Fireman
3/04/1916 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Dimboola / 35 / Trimmer
21/08/1916 / R. Seaward / Adelaide - Sydney / Dimboola / 31 / Fireman
15/09/1916 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Canberra / 31 / Trimmer
29/09/1916 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Canberra / 31 / Trimmer
11/11/1916 / R. Seaward / Melbourne - Sydney / Bombala / 31 / Trimmer
29/01/1917 / R. Seaward / San Francisco - Pt Pirie - Syd / Wairuna / 31 / Trimmer
31/05/1917 / R. Seaward / Brisbane - Sydney / Morialta / 32 / Fireman
21/06/1917 / R. Seaward / Cairns - Tvl - Sydney / Morialta / 32 / Fireman
© Donna Baldey 2009 updated 2018