Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alexander Seaton was born in Corryong in 1888, to Robert and Janet Alexandrina (née Henderson) Seaton. He attended both Corryong and Mt Elliot State Schools. His father, Robert, died in 1913, just three years before Alex enlisted in the AIF. He grew up in the Corryong area, and his occupation, according to his enlistment papers, was a farmer. 

Two of Alex’s younger brothers, David and James, also enlisted and served overseas.

On the 2nd of February 1916, Alex joined the 1st AIF. Upon enlistment, he was described as being 5 feet 8 and ¼ inches in height, weighing 11 stone, 7lbs, with light brown eyes and brown hair. Alex, Regimental Number 1910, enlisted as part of the 2nd Reinforcements for the 37th Battalion. The 37th Battalion was formed as part of the 10th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. 

On the 16th of August 1916, after initial training in Victoria, the 2nd Reinforcements embarked for England on the RMS Orontes.  Also in the 2nd Reinforcements was another Corryong lad, John William Guest. Following a further four months of training in Britain, Alex sailed to France on the SS Victoria. It would be another month before he would join his unit at the front, as he spent some time at the 26th General Hospital with skin problems. Upon arriving at the front on the 22nd of March 1917, he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company for approximately two weeks. 

He rejoined his battalion, which was located in the Catacombs at Ploegsteert, Belgium, on the 4th of May 1917. Nine days later the 37th Battalion relieved the 39th Battalion at a location called Rifle House, just south of the town of Ypres. During their ten days at the front, before they were relieved by the 38th Battalion, the 37th experienced heavy shelling and carried out a number of trench raids.         

The Battle of Messines was undertaken for the purpose of capturing the Wytschaete-Messines ridge; the capture of this was essential to plans for an offensive to occupy the Belgian coast. A seven-day preliminary bombardment began on the 31st of May, while at 0310 hours  on the 7th of June mines containing a million pounds of ammonal were detonated. There was no doubt that Alexander, in his stint with the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company, would have been involved in the digging of these mines. The blast of these detonated mines was heard by David Lloyd George, the British Prime Minister who was in his study at 10 Downing St in London. The resultant explosions created massive craters and obliterated the German’s frontline positions. The Battle of Messines is also well known for the British use of tanks during the battle.

At some time during the first two days of the battle, Alex was wounded. He suffered severe shell wounds to his back which included a fractured sacrum (a bone that strengthens and stabilises the pelvis). He was initially admitted to the 9th Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On the 10th of June 1917, he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Bologne. Unfortunately, Alex succumbed to his wounds three days later at 2240 hours on the 13th of June. Two days later he was buried in the Bologne Eastern Cemetery in France by the Rev. J Woodwell.

Alex is remembered on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, and the Corryong War Memorial. For his service during the First World War, Alex was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.