Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert Hector Seefeldt

Herbert Hector Seefeldt was born on 29 September 1895 in the Parish of Woongarra, Bundaberg, the third son and fifth child of Julius Edward Seefeldt and his wife, Rebecca Barlow from Gympie. Another three sisters and a younger brother later completed the family of nine children, four boys, Edward, John, Herbert, Julius and five girls, Louisa, Mary, Bertha, Emma and Alice. All children were baptised in Christ Church, Bundaberg and attended Sunday School there.

All four sons enlisted in military training. The eldest, Edward William died aged 17 whilst in the Naval Brigade in Bundaberg in 1906. The second son, John enlisted in the AIF in 1915 but was discharged as medically unfit. His name is also on the Christ Church Roll of Honour Board. The youngest son, Julius Edward joined the Army in the Second World War and served in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea. He survived the terrible conditions.

Herbert Hector Seefeldt began his education at Bundaberg East State School when aged 5 years in 1900. In 1905 he with his other siblings transferred to Bundaberg South State School to finish his primary education. The family now lived at 55 Victoria Street, Bundaberg East. Leaving school, Herbert became a labourer at the Millaquin Sugar Mill. He enjoyed playing cricket and was in the Millaquin Cricket Club team.

As a teenager, Herbert served in the Cadets in Bundaberg. At aged 20 years, he enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) in Bundaberg on 11 April 1916. He passed his medicals and with the rank of Private and Service Number 6205, young Herbert was sent that afternoon on the train to Enoggera Army Base in Brisbane to start his training with the 26th Battalion, A.I.F..

In his War Service Records, the Army recorded these physical attributes:
Age 20 years 8 months.
Height 5 feet 5 ½ inches. (now 166cm)
Weight 124 lbs. (now 56.2kg)
Chest measurement 30 ½ / 34 inches (now 77-87cm)
Complexion Dark
Eyes Brown
Hair Brown
Religious Denomination C. of E. (Church of England)
Herbert had no distinctive marks on his body.

After six months of training in the Enoggera Army Barracks, on 27th October 1916, Private Herbert Seefeldt and his 17th Reinforcements of 26th Battalion embarked on the HMAT A75 Marathon for the long voyage to England, disembarking ten weeks later in Plymouth on 9th January 1917. The Unit then marched to The Army Training Camp at Larkhill on the Salisbury Plain for further training as part of the 7th Training Battalion.

Unfortunately, Herbert, being used to the mild winters of Bundaberg found the extremely cold windy conditions of the open plain hard to bear and caught the flu. Four weeks after arriving in England, Herbert was admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital on 6th Febraury, 1917. In July 1914, just before the outbreak of the WWI, the Royal Army Medical Corps started work on the construction of the 1,200 bed Fargo Military Hospital. It was very close to many of the camps used by the Australians in England during the war.

Herbert’s inflenza quickly developed into pneumonia the following day. He died on the 8th February, two days after being admitted to hospital, aged 21 years. He is buried with 140 other Australians in the Durrington Cemetery in Wiltshire near Stonehenge. His grave, number 188, is in the Commonwealth War Graves Section of the peaceful, well-kept cemetery on a slight rise just outside the village of Durrington.

Herbert was the sixth Australian to die within 24 hours in the Fargo Military Hospital in that early February. All deaths were related to pneumonia, influenza and Bronchitis. All are buried side by side in 2 rows near the Australian Memorial in this local cemetery, close to the hospital.

Those serving with the Australian AIF who died within 19 hours of each other were:-
Thomas Dunn, an Irishman from Western Australia in the 44th Btn, died 4pm 7th Feb 1917, aged 44 years.
William Rayey Robinson of Geraldton, WA, 43rd Btn, died 4.30pm, aged 27 years.
Charles Henry Young of 1st Btn, died 6.50pm, aged 26 years
Thomas Joseph Desmond of Townsville, Qld, 41st Btn, died 7pm, aged 31 years.
Henry Walter Sharp of 20th Btn, died 4.20am 8th February, aged 31 years and
Herbert Hector Seefeldt of Bundaberg, Qld, 26th Btn, died 11am 8th Feb 1917, aged 21 years.

On page 3 of The Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser, dated Wednesday 14 February 1917 was the following article published under Roll of Honour.

PRIVATE H. SEEFELDT
Last evening it became the painful duty of the Rev. Canon Beasley to convey to Mr. and Mrs. Seefeldt, Victoria Street, East Bundaberg, the sad tidings of the death from pneumonia, of their son, Private H. Seefeldt, of the 26th Batt., which took place on the 8th February, at the Fargo Military Hospital, England. The young soldier, who left by transport vessel in October, had only been in England a few weeks. Private Seefeldt, who was just 21 years of age, was possessed of many excellent qualities, and was greatly esteemed by his many comrades and friends. His eldest brother, who was a member of the Naval Brigade, died some years ago, and was accorded a naval funeral. His next older brother endeavoured to enlist, but was rejected as medically unfit. Sincere sympathy will be conveyed to the bereaved parents in the loss of their brave and noble son.
Herbert’s mother, Rebecca Seefeldt received a pension of 1 pound per fortnight from 13 April 1917. Rebecca died in January 1943 aged 74 years in Bundaberg and is buried with her husband Julius who died three years later in 1946 aged 86 years. They are in an unmarked grave in the Bundaberg General Cemetery.

On 6th August 1917, Herbert’s father, Julius Seefeldt received a package from England of Herbert’s personal effects containing a Note book, Tin of Buttons, Housewife, Cigarette Holder, Pair of Armlets, Razor in case, Knife and lanyard, Comb, Shaving Brush, Match Box Cover, 2 badges, Pair of Gloves and a Leather Belt.

As Herbert did not see active service he was only awarded the British War Medal (Number 50953).

The British War Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom which was awarded to officers, men and women of the British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War.

A World War I Memorial Scroll and Memorial Plaque in Herbert’s name were received by Herbert’s father, Julius on 6th December 1921 and 18th July 1922 respectively. The Memorial Scroll was presented to the next of kin of those soldiers, sailors and nurses who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force or the Australian Navy during the First World War.

The Scroll bears the Royal Coat of Arms and a message paying tribute to the soldiers who gave up “their own lives that others might live in freedom”. It reads:

“He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.
Private Herbert Hector Seefeldt, 26th Btn. A.I.F.

The round bronze Memorial Plaque is 120mm in diameter and shows Britannia and a lion on the front and bears the inscription: “He died for freedom and honour” around the edge. The soldier’s full name is engraved on the right hand side of the plaque above the lion’s head. No rank, unit or decorations are shown, befitting the equality of the sacrifice made by all casualties.

Herbert’s name is inscribed on the following Memorials:

1. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra, on Panel 109,

2. Bundaberg War Memorial on the panel facing south along Barolin Street; Column B, Line 24,

3. Christ Church Anglican Church Honour Board, Column A, Line 9.

I believe Herbert’s name is also on the Bundaberg South State School Honour Board.

All four sons of Julius and Rebecca Seefeldt enlisted in the Military Forces. Two died very young in military service, one was discharged medically unfit and did not marry. Only the youngest son, Julius Junior was married. This happened later in his life aged 39 years in 1945 after returning from active service in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea in World War II. Julius and Nellie who was widowed, did not have any children. Julius Junior died in 1956 aged 49 years.

Hence, the Seefeldt name has not continued down the generations in Bundaberg or in Queensland as Herbert’s father was the only son of four young children who migrated with their parents in 1866 from Germany. Grandfather Ferdinand Seefeldt and the youngest daughter Anna died on the long voyage out from Hamburg. Both were buried at sea.