Name
William Charles Seabrook
21 Dec 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
2102
Royal Air Force
1st Aeroplane Supply Depot Repair Park
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
IV. C. 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
WHY SHOULD OUR TEARS IN SORROW FLOW WHEN GOD RECALLS HIS OWN
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
William Charles Seabrook was born in Tring on 21 Dec 1893 to Charles Seabrook, labourer, and Lucy (nee Busby).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, William, Florence (born 1891), Elizabeth (born 1896) and Bertha (born 1900) were living at 59, Western Road, Tring.
On the 1911 Census William’s parents, Florence & Elizabeth (domestic servants), Bertha, George (born 1902), Alice (born 1905) and Kitty (born 1906) were living at 59, Western Road, Tring. Williams whereabouts were not discovered.
Wartime Service
William volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps on 9 Nov 1914 as Air Mechanic 2 ser number 2102, trade as Fitter engines, His Service Record is sparse of detail. He was probably attached to 43 Sqn at some time but went to France with the unit on 17 Jan 1917 who were flying Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters , these were replaced with Sopwith Camels in Sep 1917. On 20 Dec 1917 William was posted to No 1 Aircraft Depot at St Omer and then on 3 Jan 1918 to No 1 Aircraft Supply Depot at Marquise. William had been promoted to Flight Sergeant 1 Jun 1917 but he he was designated Chief Mechanic on 1 Apr 1918 on the formation of the Royal Air Force.
The depot was raided by Gotha bombers of he German Air Service on 24 Sep 1918 causing heavy casualties including William who was evacuated to 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne with wounds to back, abdomen and right leg. He died from these wounds on 25 Sep 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £27 10s and arrears of £19 5s 7d was paid to his father
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Drew Seabrook
