KILLED AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 290, 27 August 1918, Page 5

KILLED AT THE FRONT

CAPTAIN R. J. S. SEDDON,

London, August 24. Captain "Dick" Seddon, the New Zealander, was killed by a shell on Wednesday, four days after ho reached the front.—Allß.-N.Z. Cable Assn. l

(Special from the Official N.Z. War Correspondent.)

August 21. General regret was expressed throughout the Now Zealand Force today when it became known that Captain Richard Seddoii, 'eon of a former Prime Minister, was killed in action. He had only a few days ago arrived in France, and was second in command of a company of the Rifles that was being held in reserve in connection with the morning's battle. During the previous evening some shells burst near him in a trench where he was sitting with some others, and they were plenteously sprinkled with the debris. It was his first experience of heavy shelling, but, he treated it with equanimity, and was quite cheerful. Next morning a shell burst right in tlio midst of tho small party ho was with, and he was killed instantaneously.

- Captain Richard John 8. Seddon, who.was 85 year? of age, was the eldest Bon of the late Hon. R. J. S. Seddon, os-Prcmier rft New Zealand. He was born on tho West Coast, and came to Wellington with his parents when quite ii boy, and finished his education at Wellington College. _ Ho always took an interest in soldiering, and , his first commission wa3 as a subaltern in tho Heretaunga Mounted Rifles.' Subsequently ho was for a time a cadet in the Royal Sew Zealand Artillery. When the war in South Africa broke out in 1899 he offered his services, and was given a commission as lieutenantin tho Fourth Contingent. Ho served later as captain in the Soventh wid Eighth Contingents. His South African record reads, as follo/s:—Operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, August 1 to November 11, 1000, including action at Belfast, August 26-27; operations in Transvaal, west of Pretoria, November, 1900; operations in Transvaal, November 30, 1900, to July, 1901, August to October, 1901/ and April to May, 1902; operations in Orange River Colony, July to August, 1901; operations on the Zululand frontier of Natal, September and October, 1901; operations in Capo Colony, May, 1902; A.D.C. to Lord Roberts, Coramander-in-Chief, August to November, 1900; mentioned in dispatches, London Gazette, April lfr, 1901; awarded the Queen's Medal with four clasps" and tho'King's Modal with two claeps.

On returning to New Zealand in 1901 he was appointed seoretary to his late father in a military capacity. After ,tho Premier's death -ho joined the staff .at Hoadquarters as Staff officer to the adjutant-general and quartermastergeneral, serving under the late Colonel Webb , and Colonel Tuson. On the latter's departure for England, Captain Seddon was appointed acting-ad-jutant aiul quartermaster-general. In 1911 the reorganisation scheme involved Captain Seddon's transfer from the New Zealand Militia to tho Now Zealand Staff Corps, and later in tho year ho, with other officers, was. sent to England to undergo military training. In 1913 lie returned to New Zealand, having comploted. his training, and was posted group officer at Paeroa, a position he declined to take up, an act which led to his resignation from the Staff Corps in September. Ho then went into business, as an indentor and commission agent, and continued to travel the Dominion commercially until the war broke out. Ho at once volunteered,, but it was not until last year that ho joined up. Hβ left Now Zealand with the rank of captain and officer commanding the troops on the , transport lie sailed with. Ho was .\ I popular officer in camp, and maintained the good will of all on board the trans'port. Captain Seddon was a singlo mm). His brothers, Captain T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., and Captain Stuart Seddon, are both on active service The former was at the latest, visiting the United States on a mission embracing overy ! arm of tho service, and tho latter was, at last advices, serving with tho Royal Field Artillery on tho Italian front. VOTE OF CONDOLENCE. At last.cvoning's meeting of the Cit.y Council the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that councillors would join with him in expressing the deepest regret for Mrs. Seddon and her family in tho loss of Captain R. J. S. Seddon. It was difficult to single out'special cases ; for votes of condolence, but he thought . this was a case, for co-operation in a vote nf condolence to Mrs. Seddon. In addition to the part the lafe Mr Seddon (Captain Seddon's father) played in the history of New Zealand, Cnptnin Soddon was an old campaigner, having served in South Africa, lie moved that tho sincere regret of the council be expressed on account of her sou being , called away. The vote was passed in I silence, tho councillors standing.