Early Life :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

21 August - 3 September 1918. Following the success at Amiens which Ludendorf described as "the black day for the German army" the conditions were right for the advance to be continued over the old Somme battlefield. Astonishingly the battlefield was crossed in 10 days, compared with the four months of the first battle. The Germans were pushed back towards the Hindenburg Line defences.

Detail :

Richard served as a teenager with the Heretaunga Mounted Rifle Volunteers, and only days after reaching his 19th birthday, joined the fourth contingent of volunteers to serve in the South African war with the “Rough Riders”. A photograph shows him in uniform prior to departure, with his family. He is a Lieutenant, later Captain, standing 5’9”, his occupation being given as Ironmonger with Briscoe, McNeil & Coy. It is reported in the newspapers of the time that he was Mentioned in Despatches by Lord Roberts, and in August 1901 was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order by the Officer Commanding. He received the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Belfast, Transvaal and Rhodesia, and also the King's South Africa Medal. He steadily moved up in rank, and on 21 March 1911, he proceeded to England for instruction and training, returning to New Zealand after 2½ years, and not long after resigned his commission on the permanent staff.

He attested for overseas service again, as Captain, on 21 February 1917, now aged two months short of 36 years, described as an Importer and Principal owner of R.J. Seddon & Co. Ltd. Physically he is 144 pounds weight, 35 inch chest, of a dark complexion, brown eyes, black hair, Church of England, perfect eyesight, and a heart rate of 76. His confidential report states that Captain Seddon is “a valuable and experienced officer, highly recommended, 17 years an officer, passed as Major, seen active service in South Africa, had Special Training in England, and qualified at the London School of Economics.” He joined the 35th Reinforcement draft of Officers to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force as No 57384 Captain, leaving Wellington on 2nd March aboard His Majesties New Zealand Transport Ship No. 101, Tofua, as Headquarters Staff Officer, commanding troops onboard. Landing first at Suez on 8 April 1918, stopping for three weeks before sailing again, arriving in Southampton on 15 May. From here the troops moved to Brocton Camp and Richard was taken onto the strength of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 31 May 1918, but back dated to 2nd March of that year. On 1st July 1918, he was sent to No.2 New Zealand General Hospital, at Walton, with cysts, and discharged to London on the 11th July, returning to Brocton. Richard left England for France on 7th August arriving the following day at the large base camp at Etaples, and on 11 August joined the 3rd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade in the field, and on 14th August he was posted to A Company. He was killed in action seven days later, on Wednesday 21 August 1918, aged 37 years. His time alive in France lasted just thirteen days.

His body was buried 7 miles west of Bapaume. Today he lies in Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, in grave I.F.I. The village of Hebuterne is 15 kilometres north of Albert (Somme) and 20 kilometres south-west of Arras.

Richard is commemorated on a brass plaque in old St. Pauls Church, Wellington which says "To the Glory and in Memory of Richard John Spotswood Seddon, Captain, New Zealand Expeditionary Force Killed in Action, Bapaume, France, 1918, aged 37. Faithful Unto Death."

The most poignant memorial to Richard must be at St. Albans Church, Eastbourne, near to Wellington, where his sister and her husband, Captain Knox Gilmer donated a memorial bell in his memory. It was dedicated by his lordship Bishop Sprott to a crowded church full of friends and family, including his mother and all relatives in New Zealand. The bell, weighing two hundred weight, was cast at Dunedin, and bears the inscription “In Memory of Captain R.J.S. Seddon killed in action in France 21st August 1918”. A brass tablet was also erected which says “The church bell was erected by May and Knox Gilmer to the Glory of God and in affectionate remembrance of their brother Captain Richard John Spotswood Seddon, N.Z.E.F. who fell in action near Bapaume, France, 21st August 1918”. At the conclusion of the service, the bell was rung thirty seven times, one ring for every year of Captain Seddon's life.

In addition to the memorials listed above Richard is commemorated by his service on the Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph, and also the New Zealand War Graves Project.

A number of items relating to Richard's issued equipment are held at the Musueum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa.

Masonic :

RICHARD JOHN SPOTSWOOD SEDDON was initiated into EMPIRE LODGE No.3257 on the 14th November 1911, in Liverpool, being described as 29 years of age, serving with the New Zealand Staff Corps, and residing at 24 Lesham Gardens, Kensington, Liverpool. He was passed to the Second Degree on 9th January 1912, and raised to the degree of a Master Mason on 13th February, 1912. Noted, in the contribution register to have been "Killed in Action 26.8.18."

Empire Lodge amalgamated with Royal George Lodge No. 4119 and Mossley Hill Lodge No. 7963 on 9th of March 2005, retaining its number but changing its name to Trinity Lodge.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley
• Researcher : Geoff Cuthill