Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Sydney Arthur Sellars was born on 12 August 1893 at Timaru, the son of Arthur William (or William Arthur) Sellars and his second wife, Mary Ann (Minnie) née Walker. Arthur William and his first wife, Elizabeth Walker (unrelated), whom he had married in 1875 at Timaru, had three children before Elizabeth died in 1882. He then married Minnie in 1886 at Timaru. Arthur William and Minnie had nine children, one dying in infancy. Sydney was educated at Waimataitai School. In June 1910, Mrs Mary Ann Sellars applied for an order of separation from her husband, Wm. Sellars, on the evidence of her husband’s bad habits, his habitual drunkenness, and cruel conduct. An order was made giving her custody of the children.

Sydney Sellars was a slaughterman and single when he enlisted on 1 May 1917 at Nelson, naming his mother as next-of-kin Mrs Minnie SellarsMaxwell Street, Lower Riccarton. Before he embarked, however, he had married Florris Elizabeth Savage on 14 July 1917 at Timaru. Mrs F. E. Sellars, C/o Mr Savage, Church Street, Richmond, Nelson, was added to his contacts. Sydney’s own address was first given as North Street, Timaru and then as C/o Mrs Spencer, Richmond. The South Canterbury quota of the 30th Reinforcement consisting of 58 men, left Timaru on 28 May 1917, but not before they had been given a very hearty send-off at the Drill Shed, and at the Strathallan Street crossing. “The men appeared in the best of spirits,” as they were put through some elementary drill movements. They were addressed by the Mayor and by the Rev. J. H. Rogers. No country in the world possessed such a free Constitution as New Zealand, and in a spirit of determination to uphold it and all that made life worth living, they were going forth to gain the mastery over the enemy, said the Mayor. On this noble mission he wished them luck and a safe return. In going away they would take with them the love, the care and affection of many who would watch anxiously for news of them, and who would ever be solicitous of their welfare, said the Rev. Rogers. Then, headed by the 2nd (S.C.) Regimental Band, they moved off to the station. The train steamed out followed by the cheers of the crowd, and the answering shouts of the departing soldiers. Among the recruits was S. A. Sellars.

Rifleman S. A. Sellars embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 15 August 1917, headed for Glasgow by the “Ruahine”. His name appeared in a casualty list published in early January 1918 – wounded.

Sydney Arthur Sellars died on 30 May 1964 at Auckland, aged 70 years, and was buried at Papakura Cemetery, where a services plaque marks his grave. His father had died in 1919 at The Old Men’s Home, Ashburton, and his mother died in 1952 at Wellington. His brother Frank Bernard Sellars also served in World War One, and another brother, David Sellars enlisted.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [06 October 2021]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [06 October 2021]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [06 October 2021]; Globe, 20 November 1882, Timaru Herald, 10 June 1910, 29 May 1917, 4 January 1918, Lyttelton Times, 24 September 1919 (Papers Past) [04 & 08 October 2021]; Papakura Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [07 October 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.