Skip to main content

SEABRIGHT, Joseph (1887-1951)

Joseph Seabright (1887-1951) was the fourth of eight children of Thomas and Fanny (née Landy), born at Broadway.  He lived with his family in Wickhamford from October 1897 to October 1900, when he attended Badsey School, before moving to Childswickham.  At the 1901 census, his father was an agricultural labourer and William was a horseman on the farm.  The family later moved to Bishampton.  He was a waggoner on a farm in Bishampton for the 1911 census and was still living with his parents.  In 1913 he married Alice Hayden and had two a daughter, Eveline, born in 1914.

There is a medal index reference, but no image of a card for 'J. Seabright' in the Royal Engineers, 236.   This may refer to 236th Field Company, which saw service in France during the Battle of Messines in June 1917.   His rank was 'Wheeler Sergeant'.  This was a man responsible for maintaining the wheels and other parts of a gun carriage etc.   As a former waggoner, he would have been very familiar with the maintenance of vehicles.  He may be the man referred to above, but this has not been confirmed.

Four of Joseph’s brothers served in the war:  William Seabright, Thomas Henry Seabright, Hubert Seabright and Charles Alfred Seabright.