Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Warrant Officer Class I F. Seabrook, Devonshire Regiment, late Somerset Light Infantry

1914-15 Star (3-7509 C.S.Mjr. F. Seabrook. Devon. R.); British War and Victory Medals (3-7509 A.W.O.Cl. 1. F. Seabrook. Devon. R.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (172 C.Sgt. F. Seabrook. Somerset: L.I.) good very fine (4) £100-£140

Frederick Seabrook was born at Woolwich, Kent in 1868 and attested for the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry on 6 September 1882. Aged 14 years at the time of his attestation he measured 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighed 86 pounds and he served as a Band Boy until he was promoted to Private in 1886. He served in Gibraltar from November 1881 to December 1883 and was promoted to Corporal in 1893, Sergeant in 1894 and Colour Sergeant in 1899. He received the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1903 and was discharged in Taunton on 31 October 1904 after 22 years and 56 days service, his character on discharge being described as ‘exemplary and thoroughly trustworthy’.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, on 14 September 1914, he attested, now aged 47, for Short Service (for the Duration of the War) with the Devonshire Regiment, giving his home address as Woolwich and occupation as Keeper of the Charlton Hotel in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He was posted to the 10th (Service) Battalion and was promoted to Company Sergeant Major on 28 September 1914. He served initially as Drill Instructor and was promoted to Warrant Officer Class II in August 1915 before being engaged on active service in France from 22 September 1915. The 10th Battalion was posted to Salonika in November 1915 where he was further advanced to Acting Regimental Sergeant Major in January 1916. He was invalided home from Salonika in August 1916 and, upon recovering his health, subsequently served as Regimental Sergeant Major with the North Somerset Yeomanry in Ireland. He died in 1935 at Weston-super-Mare.

Sold with copied research including photographic images of the recipient together with officers and men of the 10th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in September 1915.