SEIDEL, Alfred George
| Service Numbers: | 1276, 1276A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia, 4 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | Braidwood, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Killed in action, Belgium, 20 September 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Braidwood Servicemens Club Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1276, Light Trench Mortar Batteries | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 1276, Light Trench Mortar Batteries, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 1276, Light Trench Mortar Batteries, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Involvement Private, 1276A, 19th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1276A awm_unit: 19 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-09-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alfred George Seidel (known to his family and friends as ‘George’) was the son of Johan Gottileb and Ellen Seidel. The father (known as Edward Seidel) had arrived in South Australia from Germany during 1854. Around 1868 he started a family with Ellen at Mongarlowe, a small gold mining town about 13 kilometres from Braidwood, New South Wales. After they raised 11 children they decided to get married in 1910.
George enlisted at Goulburn NSW the same day as his brother Henry, but they were posted to different units, George leaving Australia with Light Trench Mortar reinforcements. He transferred to the 19th Battalion in England during February 1917 and was taken on strength of the 19th Battalion in France three months before his death during the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in Belgium. He has no known grave.
His older brother, 2395 Pte Henry Edward Seidel, 35th Battalion AIF, was killed in action, 1 June 1917, aged 27.
Another younger brother, 142 Pte Albert Seidel, an original member of the 3rd Battalion AIF, enlisted in August 1914, served at the Anzac Landing, was reported missing for a time, was severely wounded at Pozieres in 1916 and was returned to Australia medically unfit on 13 February 1917.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Alfred George SEIDEL (Service Number 1276A) was been born at Mongarlowe, near Braidwood, about August 1892.
He worked in the Railways Permanent Way Branch.
He enlisted at Goulburn on 30th April 1916. Being unmarried he gave his father living at Mongarlowe as his next of kin. Initially allotted to the 2nd Light Trench Mortar Brigade, Seidel embarked HMAT ‘Ceramic’ at Sydney on 7th October 1916 and reached Plymouth (England) on 21st November 1916. Somehow during the voyage he managed to contract venereal disease and was admitted to the ship’s VD hospital (but only for two days). Upon landing he marched to Parkhouse and then to Perham Downs. While there he was found out of bounds and disciplined by 14 days confined to barracks. In February he was transferred to the 19th Battalion. In March he was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford with venereal disease (again the treatment period was brief). In May he transferred to the 5th Training Battalion and from there proceeded to France and the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. He was taken on the strength of the 19th Battalion on 20th June 1917.
He was killed in action in Belgium on 20th September 1917.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that he has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate at Ypres.
A pension of £1 per fortnight was awarded to his mother Ellen.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.