Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William David SEATON (known as David), was born 7/6/1876 in Port Adelaide, South Australia, but moved to Sydney as a young boy.

David SEATON had an interesting(!) life before twice enlisting in the Army, he coming into contact with Police over a period of time, however, he was generally a petty criminal and street offender. Newspaper articles indicate he started his criminal activities very early in life. The Evening News of 21/12/1885 indicates as a 10 year old he was arrested with his 7 year old brother, Richard SEATON, and another boy for breaking into a house in George Street, Parramatta (street he lived in), and stole money and a ring. At his court appearance David was sentenced to be locked up for 3 days, while brother Richard was discharged. His custody was spent on the Nautical School Ship "Vernon" moored off Cockatoo Island. He had previously been in trouble in Adelaide for stealing a watch, and as a result spent 12 months in the Magill (Adelaide) Institution, an Industrial School.

William SEATON's official NSW Criminal Record commences at Balmain on 13/10/1893 for playing the illegal game of "Heading Them" (Two Up), where he was fined. He was arrested over the next 7 years another 14 times on 20 charges including Stealing, Vagrancy, Riotous Behaviour, Trespass, Assault Police, Malicious Damage, and Indecent Language. Penalties ranged from a small fine up to 3 months gaol up to that time.

Previously, on 1/3/1899, and 3/3/1899, William SEATON made in the Evening News under the headlines of "A Balmain Larrikin - Probable Use of the Lash - Scene in Court" and "The Terror of the Lash”. William had appeared in Balmain Court on a charge of Assaulting Police and Indecent Language. He was sentenced to 4 months gaol, and upon hearing that sentence he became violent, and swore at the Magistrate. He was further charged in the court with more Indecent Language, however, the Magistrate adjourned the matter to the following day indicating the sentence for this new offence may involve a whipping of not less than 10 lashes, or no more than 30 lashes. This sentence had to be handed down by two Magistrates. The following day the Magistrate appeared by himself, indicating he had been consulted by other Magistrates, and although William "rendered himself liable to a flogging", he would only be fined.

On 14/12/1900 David assaulted a man walking in Balmain, and took his parcel. He received 3 months gaol. On 5/6/1901 he was sentenced to 18 months goal for stealing a horse from a stable, and a cart and harness from an allotment on the night of 17/4/1900, and selling it. This sentence would have taken him up to his marriage on 6/11/1902. 11 months after his marriage he was sentenced to 4 years gaol at Bathurst Gaol for Robbery with Violence, when he and 2 men had driven a sulky to Edgecliff and waylaid a defenceless woman, wrenching her arm and stealing her purse. After his release from gaol he was later sentenced on 7/5/1907 to 6 weeks gaol for Assault. Overall, William SEATON spent time in gaols at Parramatta, Darlinghurst, Biloela (Cockatoo Island) and Bathurst.

During WWI David SEATON enlisted in the Australian Army on 13/12/1915, and was attached to D Company 19th Battalion. On 14/2/1916, during his training at the Liverpool Army Camp a number of recruits rioted. They boarded trains, and travelled to Central Railway Central, Sydney, where they drank large quantities of alcohol up to around midnight, causing trouble as they did. Local and Military Police were called in to quell the riotous behaviour. It was at this point that violence flared, resulting in the death of one riotous soldier having been shot by the MP's, and the wounding of another four by MP gun fire. One Police Officer was injured, as were a further three soldiers, including David SEATON. A newspaper clipping of the day indicates "David SEATON D Company 19th Battalion 58 Gerrard St, Alexander - injured". A further newspaper article on 15/2/1916, had a statement from SEATON, indicating he was an innocent bystander during the riots, but when at Central Railway Station, whilst holding a fire hose, he was struck on the head with a baton, hit in the chest with a rifle barrel, and when he attempted to flee, was shot in the hip by the MP’s. The injured were treated at the Garrison Hospital. It was a direct result of this drunken riot that hotels were forced to close at 6pm for some 60 years later. David was only to remain in the Army another 6 weeks when on 3/4/1916 his record indicates "Discharged - Unlikely to become an Efficient Soldier". It is not known if he was charged criminally over his actions.

Ironically though, it was on 11/7/1916 that David William SEATON re-enlisted into the Army, as No.5647, a member of the 15th Re-enforcements 20th Battalion. He gave his occupation as a stone cutter/sewer miner. He sailed from Australia on 9/9/1916, arriving in Plymouth 26/10/1916. He received a shrapnel wound to his chest on 27/3/1917 whilst in France. He recovered, and returned to action. He was fined 7 days pay for Drunkenness on 27/7/1917. He was then in and out of Field Hospitals during the last part of 1917, then returned to England where he went AWOL from 1/2/1918 to 17/3/1918 for which he was given 28 Days field Punishment and fined 73 days pay. He returned to Australia on 1/8/1918, and discharged 24/10/1918 due to his age and chronic rheumatism.

Little is known of him after the war. He was a cement floor layer, and was living at 81 Darely Street, Newtown. He died at Liverpool Hospital on 26/3/1952 suffering from cancer to the lip and larynx. He was buried at Botany on 28/3/1952.

(Les de Belin - grandson of Seaton's brother-in-law, Ernest Fred de Belin)