On Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of Tyneside Tyneside Z/10273 Telegraphist Fredrick Seed, serving on H.M. Drifter Jeannie Murray with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who died 15/02/1918.
The son of Timothy Henry and Emily Seed, of Royal Road, Stanley, County Durham. He was an assistant Schoolmaster at Greenland Schools, South Moor, County Durham.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Frederick Seed was the second born of 3 sons and had a younger sister. His parents Timothy Henry Seed and Emily Fallon were both born in Durham City, County Durham, in 1868 and 1871 respectively and were married in Durham in 1889.
Their son Henry Arthur was born in Durham City in 1891 whilst they were living at 65, New Elvet where Timothy was employed as a blacksmith and horseshoer. Durham City was also the birthplace of Frederick, October 2nd 1893 while Emily Isabel was born in the village of Bear Park, County Durham, August 26th 1899. In 1891 they occupied 28, Bond Street in the village but had transferred to Stanley by the time Walter was born in 1907.
In 1911 they occupied 5 rooms at Royal Street, Stanley. Timothy Henry ran his own blacksmith and horseshoeing business, Henry Arthur had left the family home, Frederick (17) was a pupil teacher at the Council Schools, Emily (11) and Walter (4) remained at home with their mother. The family employed 16 year old Florrie Bainbridge as their domestic servant.
When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country in answer to Kitchener’s call to arms and all regiments were ordered to raise new battalions. At the time Frederick was still unmarried and living with his family, he was employed as Assistant Schoolmaster at Greenland Schools, Stanley.
Described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion Frederick was assigned, October 10th 1916 as Ordinary Seaman Tyneside Z/10273 Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, to Victory VI, a shore based training establishment for the Royal Navy at Cristal Palace, London. Having risen to the rank of Able Seaman between January 3rd and March 23rd 1917 he was aboard the hired research trawler Turaco 609 then as Telegraphist between April 1st-May 18th 1917.
May 19th 1917 Telegraphist Frederick Seed transferred to HMS Attentive an Adventure-class scout cruiser which spent most of WW1 assigned to the Dover Patrol. He remained with the ship until he joined the British Drifter “Jennie Murray” October 1st 1917. The British Drifters were involved in maintaining anti-submarine nets laid across the Dover Straits to block German submarines from gaining access to the English Channel.
During these works the drifters were like sitting ducks and exposed to attacks. February 15th 1918 was a prime example of this as on that day seven hired drifters were sunk, listed as, “lost in action,” having been attacked in what became known as, “The Massacre of the Drifters,” when German Torpedo Boat Destroyers attacked them off Dover.
Telegraphist Tyneside Z/10273 Frederick Seed was killed in action during the attack, one of 15 crew members of the “Jennie Murray” lost at sea. His body was never recovered for Christian burial, listed as cause of death 1, “killed or died as a direct result of enemy action.”
His sacrifice is recorded as one of 8.517 names inscribed on Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. The memorial, in the form of an obelisk, stands overlooking the town of Chatham commemorating sailors of WW1 and WW2 who perished at sea where no permanent memorial could be raised. Telegraphist Frederick Seed R.N.V.R. was 24 years of age and single. Awards; British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His father Timothy Henry Seed resident of Tanfield View, Stanley, was informed of his son’s death as next of kin. His mother received a pension which was approved, September 9th 1920.
Although Frederick’s elder brother Henry Arthur Seed would have been eligible to serve during WW1 no records have been found.
Timothy Henry Seed resident of Tanfield View, Stanley, died, December 22nd 1933, his effects in the sum of £648 18 shillings 2 pence were assigned to his widow Emily, January 22nd 1934. Emily Seed nee Fallon died in the district of Durham North Western in 1948.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Acknowledgements: Barney Rice
Fredrick Seed is remembered at Durham on D47.052 and D47.141, at Stanley in S135.04 page 18, at Tanfield Lea on T63.04,on our List of Ships crews and on our Lists of Teachers who fell in 1914-18 and Teachers who served in 1914-18.
