Seckham G A Lt 2nd East Lancs Regiment
LIEUTENANT G. A. SECKHAM
2ND BATTALION THE EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT
GERALD ADAIR SECKHAM was the only son of Gerald James Thorn Seckham (O.R., 1882-85), of Beacon Place, Lichfield, Barrister-at-law, and J.P., County of Stafford.
He entered the School in 1907, went to the R.M.C., Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the East Lancashire Regiment in February, 1912, joining the 2nd Battalion at Wynberg, South Africa. He was promoted Lieutenant in November of the same year, and returned to England with the Regiment in October, 1914, proceeding to the Front a few days later.
He was killed in action on January 6th, 1915, when holding an advanced post on the road leading to Neuve Chapelle. Age 21. His name had previously been sent in for special recognition for an act of great bravery in going out under fire to bring in a wounded man.
The remarks of the General Officer commanding the Division upon “this prompt and plucky action” were read out at the head of each Company.
He was mentioned in Despatches of May 31st, 1915.
The following are extracts from a letter of his Company Commander:-
“It is my very great regret that he has not been spared to receive the honours due to him for his most dashing and daring exploit of only a few days ago. It filled me with pride to think I had such men under my command, and it also brings into a bright light the devotion of a servant for his master, and the strong bond of friendship between men.
“It was about 9.30 a.m. on December 31st, 1914, that Seckham came to me and said there was a man lying in a field behind our trenches, and asked my permission to go out and see whether he was dead or wounded, so that, if found to be wounded, he could dress his wound and later arrange to bring him in. After discussing the best way to go, so as to get most cover, I gave him permission. I must own I did not like the enterprise, but at that moment the man turned over, half sat up, and collapsed again. Your son needed no spur, but hurried off. His servant, Private Cunningham, had apparently had his eye on him, and calling out ‘I’m coming too, sir,’ dashed away. As they passed, my servant, Private Harris, said, “Are you going, Cunny?” and receiving a reply in the affirmative, he said, ‘Then I’m coming too.” Amongst others, a Lance-Corporal had to be stopped, as the party was growing too big, and would therefore have run more risk.
“Away went the men, partly concealed for about 100 yards by some old willows, and then they broke cover and ran, in full view of an alert enemy only about 400 yards away, to the wounded man, 100 yards further on.
“The enemy opened fire at once. They reached the man and got down to examine his wound, and, realising that they were being fired upon, kept very low while they made their arrangements. Then, suddenly, they all jumped up, and I saw that your son had the man by the legs, the other two supporting him by the shoulders. In that way, and at a jog trot, they reached a small piece of cover, the bullets flying all around them. There they dressed the man’s wound, and once more went forward, in the same order, across another stretch of open, under another burst of fire, to a cottage, where they were able to leave him to be taken away under cover by the stretcher-bearing party. How none of them were hit is a miracle.
“On his return to the trenches by a covered way, I gave your son a pat on the back: I was too overcome to say much. His only remark was, “Fancy the devils firing at us,” which was very characteristic, for he considered it such an unsporting thing to do; but it only brings into brighter light the bravery of twice facing the open, combined with the weight of a man and under fire such a short distance from the enemy.
“Many a V.C. has been won for a less brave deed, and for one carried out in the excitement of battle; but the glory of this deed is its cool deliberation and brilliant execution. It is poor consolation, but still it is something to have that very brave deed to look back upon. He and the others deliberately risked their lives to save a fellow being suffering and possibly death.
“This is the story, a story that will be remembered by all who witnessed it; and it will be told again and again in many parts of the United Kingdom and of South Africa.”
Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1
