Herbert Thomas Seume

1869 - 1916

Summary

Born

30 Aug 1869

Chelsea, London

Parents

 

Albert Samuel Seume - Emma Spedding

Married

25 June 1902

May Gibbs at Fulham Registry Office

Children

 

None known

Died

20 Nov 1916

The Somme

Dates of Key Events

Date

Age

Event

30 Aug 1869

 

Born in the parish of Chelsea, London
to Albert Samuel Seume and Emma Spedding

1871 census

1

 

1881 census

11

Living at May Cottage, May Street, Fulham

13 Mar 1889

19

Joined the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment

Attested at Guildford

May 1890

20

Living at 'Woodlands', Ash Vale with parents and brothers Frederick (15) and Sidney (13)

Played Cricket for St Mary's (Ash Vale) vs St Peter's (Ash) on Whit Monday

Later 1890

 

Serving in India, at Umballa

1891 census

21

In India

26 April 1891

21

Awarded Army Hospital Certificate of Nursing Efficiency
while serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment

18 Nov 1896

26

Applied for transfer to Army Reserve

Finalised 15 Jan 1897

Private No 2650

In 1899

29

Went with the Army to South Africa:

  • Jugela Heights

  • Orange Free State

  • Relief of Ladysmith

  • Transvaal

  • Laing's Nek

1901 census

31

In South Africa

30 April 1902

32

Discharged from the Army (at Guildford) from rank of Lance Corporal after serving for 13 years and 4 days, including 8 years and 283 days abroad.

25 June 1902

32

Married May Gibbs at Fulham Registry Office

Living at 10 Wyfold Road, Fulham

1911 census

41

Not known

by Mar 1916

 

Living at 464 Colony Street, Winnipeg, Canada (Occupation given as 'Shipper')

25 Mar 1916

46

Joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force as Private No 532229

20 Nov 1916

47

Killed at The Somme while serving with the 12th Field Ambulance, Canadian Army Medical Corps

Buried in Pozieres British Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boiselle, Somme (Plot II G6)

War Diary for 12th Canadian Field Ambulance:
18-26 Nov 1916

See scanned page for Nov 1916

While the diary entry does not cite the death of Herbert, it does give an impression of the level and type of activity in which he and his comrades were involved.

 

"Great inrush of patients, our accomodation being taxed to the utmost. Material for building huts being available, working parties were formed for the erection of same. Owing to the small number of personnel being to hand, work at first proceeded but slowly, although sufficient accomodation for patients to meet our daily needs was provided. With the return of two Bearer Subdivisions, the work assumed a brisk aspect, and more than sufficient accomodation was then forthcoming. During our stay there 10 huts were erected, each capable of providing for 40(?) lying cases."