SEELEY, Francis James Laurence
| Service Number: | 305 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 August 1914, An original member of C Company |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Essendon, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Moonee Ponds, Moonee Valley, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Ascot Vale State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Leather trunk maker |
| Died: | Killed in action, Gallipoli, 6 July 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Plot II, Row C, Grave No. 10. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 305, 7th Infantry Battalion, An original member of C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 305, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 305, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne |
Help us honour Francis James Laurence Seeley's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Essendon Gazette 12 August 1915.
"Private Jim Seeley, who was killed in action on 6th July, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Seeley, of 92 Argyle street, Moonee Ponds. He was educated at Ascot Vale State school, and at the time of enlistment he was employed by Mr. Waller, of Collins street, trunk and bag maker. He was a member of the 58th Essendon Rifles, and was amongst the first to volunteer, going into camp with the advance guard. He was in the 7th Battalion, and got through the landing safely. He was in the firing line until about 9th or 10th May, when he sprained his ankle, and was sent to the Barracks Hospital, Malta, and had only just returned to the firing line when he was killed. He has a brother at the front."
His younger brother, 2283 Pte. William Seeley, 58th Battalion AIF was later killed in action 26 March 1917, aged 19. They were both the sons of James and Milinda Seeley, of Moonee Ponds, Victoria.
The following article appeared in the papers during early 1917, under the heading, FATHER OF TWO DEAD SOLDIERS,
"I am going to do my share towards winning the war," said James Seeley, when presenting himself for enlistment at the Moonee Ponds Recruiting Depot. "And, if possible," he added, “I'm going to have revenge.” Mr. Seeley is an abled-bodied man, 44 years of age, who for some years has been employed by the Essendon Council as a day laborer, and he gave his address at No. 92 Argyle Street, Moonee Ponds. Two of Mr. Seeley's sons have been killed in action — one in Gallipoli, the other in France recently. The applicant. was accepted for service, and the Essendon Council has decided to keep his billet open for him, and make good any difference between his wages and the military pay.
There is no record that Mr. Seeley was successful in his intentions, but it should be noted that as well as losing his two sons, his own two brothers, Albert and Arthur Seeley, of Essendon, were also killed during the war.
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