Name
Albert Roland Seager (MM)
11/03/1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/04/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14320
South Wales Borderers
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 65 to 66.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Waltham Cross Memorials
Pre War
Albert Roland SEAGER was born in Cheriton, Kent, on 11th March 1897, son of Wallace Henry Roland Seager, a Domestic Gardener and Edith May Seager (nee Wilson). One of eight children although four died in infancy.
1901 Census records Albert aged 4, living with his parents, and brother Archibald (9 months) (1901 – 1907), at 23 Broomfield Road, Cheriton, Kent. His Aunt Alice Porter was staying with the family on the night of the Census.
1911 Census, Albert aged 14 was living/Boarding with his Aunt and Uncle, Alice and Thomas Porter and their family at 15 Kennard Terrace, Crumlin, Monmouthshire, Wales. His occupation is given as a Coal Miner “Hewer” (a Digger at the Coal Face) as is his Uncle. His parents, brothers, Wallace (8), Ivo (4) and sister Hilda (2), are living in Brewster Cottages, Doddington, Kent.
His mother Edith May Seager passed away in October 1911, in Doddington, Kent, aged 34.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, posted to the 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, issued with the service number 5/14320.
The 5th Battalion trained at Park House Camp, Tidworth, Wiltshire. In January 1915, they converted to a Pioneer Battalion. On completion of their training at Parham Down, Wiltshire, Albert and the 5th Battalion, sailed for France arriving at Le Havre, on 16th July 1915. Seeing service on the Western Front Albert was Killed in Action on 10th April 1918, at the Battle of Messines (10th – 11th April 1918), part of the Battle of the Lys (9th – 29th April 1918). He has no known grave; he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing in Belgium. Panels 65 to 66.
Albert was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the field during the Battle of the Lys at Messines.
Additional Information
His effects of £13-02-09, pay owing and his war gratuity of £17, went to his father Wallace Henry Roland Seager.
1921 Census records his widowed father Wallace now living at “Cedar’s Park” Waltham Cross, Herts, as a Gardener Caretaker, with son, Ivo (15) and daughter Hilda (12), they had a live-in Housekeeper Alice Webb.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
