Pte 406610 Thomas George Secombe

• Age: 32
• From: Swansea
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 27th July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Thomas George Secombe was born on 09th November 1884 in Swansea and was baptised the 14th January 1885 at St Mary's Church, Swansea. He was the son of George Secombe and his wife Charlotte (née Jones) who were married on the 06th August 1877 at St Peter’s Church, Swansea. George was a 21 year old moulder of Swansea, father Abel a sailor, whilst Charlotte was aged 21 of Swansea, father Thomas a ship carpenter. He was baptised the 14th January 1885 at St Mary's Church, Swansea. 

His father George born 15th October 1856 has the surname Secombe. Swansea Electoral Rolls at 9 Garden Street have the change in surname after 1891.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 9 Garden Street, Swansea. His father, George, is aged 32, employed as an iron-moulder, his mother, Charlotte, is aged 30. They have six children at the time of the Census. At school are Charles aged 11, Mary A. aged 9, George aged 6, Beatrice aged 5, with Rosa aged 2, and Charlotte 3 months. All born in Swansea. 

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved to 10 New Orchard Street, Swansea. His father, George, is aged 43, employed as an iron-moulder, his mother, Charlotte, is aged 41 and has no occupation listed. They have eight children at the time of the Census; Mary Ann aged 19 and Thomas George aged 17 have no occupation listed, Beatrice Maud aged 14, Rose aged 12, Alfred aged 10, Gladys May aged 7, Frederick aged 5and Phyllis Irene aged 2.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 16 Winston Street, Swansea.  His father, George, is aged 54, born in Swansea in 1859 occupation iron and brass moulder in a foundry, his mother, Charlotte, is aged 52, born 1859 in Swansea and has no occupation listed. They have been married for 33 years and have had 12 children of which two had died. Those listed at home are; William Charles aged 30, born 1881 is a dock labourer, Thomas George aged 27, born 1884 is a sea faring fireman, Alfred aged 18, born 1893 is a Mason’s labourer, Gladys May aged 16, born 1895 is a confectionery packer, Frederick aged 14, born 1897 is a greengrocer’s errand boy, Phyllis Irene aged 12, born 1899 and Violet aged 8, born 1903.

His brother Alfred, aged 22, was sadly killed in the early stages of the war on the 22nd December 1914 whilst serving as Pte 11610, A Coy, 1/South Wales Borderers. His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as Alfred is named on the Le Touret Memorial, France at Panel 14 & 15.

His death was reported in the Western Mail on Friday 13 August 1915:

SWANSEA SOLDIER KILLED. 

The family of Private Alfred Seacombe, of 5, Dyfatty-street, Swansea, have now received conclusive evidence that that the soldier, who was reported missing, was killed at Festubert. Mr. and Mrs. Seacombe, his parents, have also a son-in-law and twelve nephews in the Army.    

Thomas enlisted in Swansea and served originally as Private 2600 of the Welsh Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 406610.

He was killed in action on the 27th July 1917, aged 32.

The 19th Battalion Diary records the events of the day as follows:

"Very heavy shelling during the day on front and support lines. Our artillery was also very active during the day and night. At night 'B' Company relieved 'C' Company in the front line. Later word was received that the Germans had retired on our left and 'D' Company were immediately sent into the front line to reinforce 'B' Company. Patrols of the 16th Battalion, Manchester Regiment pushed forward but returned just before daybreak after finding the enemy trenches were occupied, and at the same time 'D' Company returned to the support line from the front line". 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave, like his brother, Alfred, and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was reported killed in Weekly Casualty List on the 28th August 1917:

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Seacombe, 406610, T. (Swansea); 

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £3 14s 5d, war gratuity of £13 to his mother Charlotte. The Pensions of both Alfred and Thomas to parents, 5, Dyfatty Street, Swansea.

His mother died in tragic circumstances, aged 66, on the 19th October 1926 as reported in the South Wales Daily Post on Wednesday 20th October 1926:

KILLED AT G.W.R. STATION.

Well-known Swansea Lady Falls Under Train. 

Had two Sons Killed In France.

A most distressing accident occurred at the G.W.R. Station, High Street, Swansea, on Tuesday night, shortly after half past seven. A woman later identified as Mrs Charlotte Seacombe, aged 68, of 5 Dyfatty Street, apparently attempted to alight from a train at number 10 platform while the train was still in motion. She fell and rolled to the edge of the platform where a portion of her clothing was caught by the moving train, and she was dragged under. Trevor Evans, a porter, saw a door opening in the last carriage of the train and the woman attempt to get out. She slipped and rolled to the edge. He rushed forward and grasped her by the wrist, but owing to some portion of her clothing being caught in the moving train the strain was too much, and he was compelled to release the hold. The woman was dragged under the train and Evans rushed to the guard’s van, in an attempt to apply the vacuum brake, he, however, slipped and fell, and his hand went through a carriage window. Inspector George Bowen (G.W.R.), who was standing on the platform at the time, also witnessed a door being thrown open next to the guard’s van. He jumped down to disconnect the van, and found the woman lying face down on the line and clear of the rails. Dr O'Sullivan was called and ordered her immediate removal to hospital where Dr Hughes (the house surgeon) and pronounced life extinct. The body was later removed to the mortuary, where it was identified by Frederick Seacombe as that of his mother Charlotte Seacombe.

Well-known Family. 

Seacombes Known All Over Wales.  

Mrs Seacombe is well known and highly esteemed in South Wales for a number of years. She has travelled to all the fairs where she made numerous friends. She is the daughter of the late Mr T, George. boatbuilder of St Thomas. She leaves several grown up daughters and sons. 

Two Sons Killed In France.  

Two sons of Mrs Seacombe were killed in France, Alfred Seacombe being killed on 21st December 1914 at Festubert, and Thomas George Seacombe being killed at Zillebeke, in 1917. Mr George Seacombe, the husband of the unfortunate woman, is a moulder by trade, and like his wife is well known in Swansea and South Wales.

She was remembered by her family in a In Memoriam post in the South Wales Daily Post on Wednesday 19 October 1927: 

IN MEMORIAM 

SEACOMBE— In loving memory of Charlotte, dearly beloved wife of Charles Seacombe, 5 Dyfatty-street, Swansea, who died as result of an accident at G.W.R. (High-street Station), October 19th, 1926. 

I never thought when she left home,  

She would no more return; 

That she so soon in death would sleep,  

And leave us all mourn. 

Could we have raised her dying head, 

Or heard her last farewell.

The blow would not have been so hard,  

For those who loved her so well. 

 —Too dearly loved to be forgotten by her sorrowing Husband, Son Charlie, Daughters Mary Ann, Beatie, Violet, Sons-in-law and Daughter-in law. Steve, Elias, Walter and Annie, also Grandchildren and friend Jim.

SEACOMBE— In loving memory of my dear mother Charlotte Seacombe, who passed away October 19th 1926.  

Her loving smile and gentle ways are pleasant to recall,

She had a kindly word for each and was beloved by all; 

Tis sweet to know we’ll meet again, where partings are no more, 

And that the one we loved so well has only gone before. 

A loving mother, true and kind;

A beautiful memory left behind.

— From her loving Daughter Irene, Percy and Family. 

SEACOMBE— A loving memory of our dear mother, Charlotte Seacombe who passed away October 19th 1926.  

A loving mother, true and kind,

A beautiful memory left behind.

—Not forgotten prayer by Mollie, Fred and Pat. 

His father died, aged 71, in 1928.

Thomas was rememembered in the South Wales Daily Post on Monday 30 July 1928: 

IN MEMORIAM 

SEACOMBE – In loving memory of Thomas George Seacombe, dearly-beloved son of George and the late Charlotte Seacombe, 5 Dyfatty-street, Swansea, killed in action, July 27th 1917 — Deeply mourned by his sorrowing Father, Brother and Sisters, Charlie, Mary Ann, Beatie, Rosa and Violet. “A daily thought, an everlasting memory.”

His father died, aged 71, in 1928.

Thomas and Alfred are commemorated on the Swansea Cenotaph War Memorial. 

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