Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Seddon David Waddell Webb was born on 5 February 1899 at Temuka, the youngest son of Andrew Webb and Helen Jane née Waddell. He was baptized on 1 August 1900 at the Temuka Presbyterian Parish. Irish-born Andrew emigrated in 1874 and married New Zealander Helen in 1879 at Temuka. In April 1887, Andrew Webb bought a section at Arowhenua. In December 1889, Mr Andrew Webb, of Arowhenua, sustained serious injury to one of his bands through the bursting of a kerosene lamp. He was progressing fairly well, it was reported, until a week later when it was feared that his hand would have to be amputated, as the injuries are more severe than were at first reported. Mrs A. Webb frequently, and successfully, exhibited at the Temuka Show – crochet, flowers, vegetables, berries, fruit. In March 1899, Mrs A. Webb forwarded to the Temuka Leader office “a large red tomato, which turns the scale at a little over 1 lb weight. The tomato is by no means a beauty, but appears like several strangely-shaped tomatoes joined together.” In mid-February 1905, Mrs A. Webb left at the Temuka Leader office “some excellent samples of vegetables grown by her at Temuka — red cabbage, parsnips, and carrots. Mrs Webb was very successful at the Temuka and Geraldine Horticultural Shows, and the exhibits left at our office are admirable ones.” Andrew Webb placed a notice in the Temuka Leader in November 1907 advising that he would not be responsible for his wife’s debts. Mr A. Webb, senior, was a member of the Temuka Volunteer Rifle Company and later a member of the Temuka Veterans’ Club. In November 1912, Andrew Webb transferred a section (1 acre) at Arowhenua to Helen Jane Webb. In mid-1916, an appeal was being made throughout New Zealand for funds in aid of the dependents of the men of the Royal Navy, who would lose their lives during the war. Andrew Webb, Temuka, subscribed 10 shillings. In 1918 Andrew Webb gave to the Prisoners of War appeal.

Along with his siblings, Seddon was educated at Temuka School, starting just after his fifth birthday. In his first year (1904), he received an Attendance prize and 1st class certificate in the Preparatory 1 class. In 1905, it was Merit and a Second-class Attendance prize in Preparatory III. Seddon received a Merit prize for equal first place in Preparatory IV and a First-class Attendance certificate in 1906. In 1907 it was a First-class Attendance certificate in Standard I and a special writing prize. 1908 brought him a First-class Attendance certificate and a prize for second place in Boys’ proficiency in Standard II. At the annual breaking-up ceremony in 1909, he received the prize for second in Standard III merit and an attendance award. He was placed third equal in Standard IV in 1910. He was rewarded for fourth place in Standard VI Boys’ general proficiency in 1912.

Seddon Webb put his age up by three years to allow him to enlist on 16 October 1916 at Dunedin, giving his age as 20 years 8 months whereas he was only 17 years 8 months. He was medically examined on 16 October 1916 at Dunedin. He stood at 5 feet 10½ inches, weighed 147 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-36½ inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes blue and his hair brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. Free from diseases and vaccinated, he was in good bodily and mental health and deemed fit. Seddon Webb was a clerk at Oamaru, giving his address as Alexandra House, Moray Place, Dunedin. Single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Helen Jane Webb, 14 Princes Street, Temuka.

The roll call of men who went forward from Dunedin on 19 October 1916 included Seddon David Waddell Webb (General Service). The send-off to the 22nd Reinforcements was on the same plan as the send-off to the first and every other draft from Otago — the assembly at the Drill Hall, the march through the streets, the cheering crowd at the railway station, the pointed speeches, the entrainment. “To-day there is hardly a large family in New Zealand that is not anxious about a son or a nephew or a husband or a cousin wounded, and many are silently mourning over their dead.” In the ranks a new characteristic appeared — namely, the larger proportion of older men. Seddon Webb was certainly not one of them. “. . . . the men who left to-day are soldiers in the full sense, of the term. They were all sworn in at the time of enlisting, or as soon as passed fit. That was not so with the previous reinforcements. The majority of the men who went forward to-day were signed on for what is now known as general service, . . . . .” Short speeches were delivered at Kensington Hall where the Dunedin men mustered, then the St. Kilda Band played the group to Anzac Square. The National Anthem having been sung, the Mayor gave an address – “. . . . . You are going to fight for humanity, and for the right of civilisation, to exist — that the code of the gentleman, not the customs of barbarians, shall be the rule. . . . . . Men of the 22nd, in the name of the citizens I bid you God-speed. . . . . .” After a short prayer from the Salvation Army Major, amidst the cheering of the crowd and the playing of the band the men marched on to the platform and swiftly entrained. He incurred a few penalties at Featherston and Trentham – being confined to Barracks for absence from Parade; forfeiting pay and confined to Barracks for overstaying leave (twice); confined to Barracks for failing to comply with an order.

Private S. D. W. Webb embarked with the Otago Infantry Regiment of the 22nd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Plymouth, England, per the “Aparima” on 16 February 1917. Disembarking at Devonport on 2 May 1917, he marched in to Sling. Five weeks later he left for France and marched into Camp at Etaples on 8 June and joined his Battalion in the Field on 25 June. He was sent to hospital, sick, on 9 August 1917, and admitted to No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance on 10 August. He was discharged to his Unit on 18 August and rejoined his Battalion in the Field. The truth about his age was out – underage, he was despatched to Base on 4 September 1917. Attached to Strength there on 7 September, he marched out and was admitted to Segn. Camp on 14 October. Classified C by the NZEF Travelling Medical Board on 5/6 December 1917 in France, he marched out to England on 15 December and marched in to Sling on 17 December. While there he forfeited pay for overstaying leave. Having marched out to the Discharge Depot at Torquay on 28 January 1918, he embarked for New Zealand per the “Tahiti” on 1 February 1918 at Liverpool. He spent two days confined to Barracks on the Transport for absence from Fatigue on 13 February. Mrs Webb, Princes Street, Temuka, had received word in mid-January 1918 that her son, Private Seddon Webb, would return home at the end of January. In early March the word was that he was returning home invalided and was expected to arrive in two or three weeks time. S. D. Webb, of Temuka, returned to New Zealand by the “Tahiti” (Draft No. 149/147), the South Canterbury men coming from Lyttelton by special train expected mid-afternoon on the 19 March 1918. A large crowd was expected at Temuka to meet them and the Temuka Band would be in attendance. Although the train was late and the weather was very wet, rain pouring down the whole of the day, there was a very large gathering at the railway station. Flags were flown from stalls and business places in the town and at the railway station. The Temuka Juvenile Brass Band struck up a welcoming air. The men were warmly welcomed by their relatives and friends. Mr Gunnion assured the returned soldiers that all were very glad to see them back and thanked them for what they had done for them. “They had been far away fighting for those who remained at home, and braving the perils and trials of this terrible war. Temuka honoured them, and hoped they would soon all be well again and be long spared to live happily with their friends.” Speaking from the post office steps, the Mayor (Mr A. Frew) said that they were all very glad to have the men back. “They had been doing their duty for their country, and it was for the State to see that men who had fought and suffered in the war should be well provided for in the future.”

Back home at Temuka, Private S. D. Webb was granted sick-leave for a week in March. He was discharged on 16 April 1918, no longer physically fit for war service on account of goitre. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in France, brief though it was. At the annual meeting of the Temuka Football Club in April 1918, S. Webb was elected to the committee. Was this Seddon? The next month he was selected to play in the Temuka seniors team. In May 1919, S. Webb was a new member of the Temuka Miniature Rifle Club. Or Syd Webb?

Late in 1919, Seddon was living with Mrs Jubb in Collins Street, Timaru. On 4 February 1920 at the Sacred Heart Church, Seddon Webb married Elizabeth May Jubb (May), sister of John Thomas Jubb who also served in World War One. Their daughter Martha Margaret Webb (Margaret) was born on 23 August 1920. Elizabeth May Webb died on 24 August 1921 (the day after Martha’s first birthday) at their Rangiriri residence. She was buried in Kimihia Cemetery. After May’s death, Seddon returned to Temuka with his little daughter and lived with his parents. At the Milford Lagoon annual sports and picnic held on 2 January 1922, Mrs Seddon Webb was placed second in the Baby Show (girls under 18 months) with her little daughter Margaret. Surely her grandmother took little Margaret to the picnic. Martha Margaret started at Temuka School in February 1926 and returned there in July 1933 after a few months at Milford School. On the evening of 18 February 1926, on the occasion of the Temuka school picnic to Oamaru, a young man was found lying face downwards on the main south road near Morven, quite unconscious. He was riding a motor cycle which had skidded in some loose shingle, and, being unable to regain control of the machine, had fallen rather heavily on his face, which was badly cut about. Fortunately one of the occupants of the passing car had some knowledge of dressing such injuries, and the unconscious man had his wounds attended to before being taken to the Waimate Hospital. The injured man was Seddon Webb, of Temuka. A week into March, he had recovered sufficiently from his injuries to be able to return to his home in Temuka.

As of January 1928, Seddon Webb was elected a representative of the property holders on the committee of the Milford Lagoon Recreation Association. In 1929 he married Elizabeth Cecilia O’Driscoll (Betty). Seddon and Elizabeth had two sons and a daughter. In 1932, Elizabeth Webb and another Temuka woman were in court, both facing charges of having assaulted each other. There was, it seems, a great deal of antagonism and aggression from both women. Seddon Webb had the fifth highest score when the Temuka Citizens’ Club held a successful night’s shooting with the Temuka Miniature Rifle Club in May 1929. At the January 1939 meeting of the Temuka branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, sympathy was expressed with Seddon Webb, a branch member, in his recent bereavement [father]. As a sequel to a fracas in King Street, Temuka, on 7 October 1939, Seddon David Waddell Webb and another appeared in the Temuka Magistrate’s Court on 14 November, charged with fighting. Both men had struck blows. Two men were charged with assaulting Webb. The charges of assault were dismissed, but Webb and the other were convicted on the charge of fighting and were fined.

Seddon David W. Webb, Temuka, was in the South Canterbury list of reservists (married men, 41 to 45 age group) who were called up in the Nineteenth Ballot in December 1942. Seddon and Elizabeth may have drifted apart, he moving to Milford in the mid-1950s and she to Timaru with her family. Seddon David Waddell Webb died at his residence at Milford near Temuka on 25 August 1981, aged 82 years. He was accorded RSA honours at his graveside funeral service at Temuka, where his grave is marked by a Services plaque. He was survived by his second wife, and two sons and daughter of his second marriage. His daughter Martha Margaret Ingram died in 1970. Elizabeth Cecilia Webb died in January 1986 at Timaru and was buried at Temuka. Seddon outlived all his nine siblings.

In 1926, all was not well in the Webb household. In November 1919, an order had been made for Mr Andrew Webb to pay 15 shillings per month towards his wife’s maintenance. In May 1926, he was in arrears and applied for a variation of the maintenance order. He was 73 years old, was earning only £1 per week, and had been in failing health during the past few winters. He lived at home occasionally but was not going to do so any longer. He had paid sums of money to his wife but could not continue. His youngest son (Seddon), aged 26, lived at home with his mother and was able to support her. He had three sons in the Railway Department (Andrew, Alexander and Gordon?). Although it was alleged that a separation order was in existence, Mr and Mrs Webb had been living together. The magistrate said that the separation order had been broken and he thought that the sons should be communicated with. Come October 1926, and Helen Jane Webb made an application for maintenance order from her four sons – Seddon, L. R. S., H. G. J., and Alexander Webb. Seddon who appeared in court, was a widower with one child, and said that he was not prepared to contribute towards his mother’s maintenance. Mrs Webb said that she was 67 years of age and had no money whatsoever. She owned a house and section; she received a pension which had been cancelled because they were not legally separated and 5 shilling per week from her husband. Seddon had been living with her until very recently. She kept his child in clothes and shoes, but he made no regular payments. Seddon asked his mother what she did with the money in the Post Office – “You drew it out and planted it, as you thought you would be shrewd.” In the end, each son was ordered to pay 5 shillings per week towards their mother’s maintenance, starting from 19 October.

Mrs Helen Jane Webb, one of South Canterbury’s oldest identities and the oldest pupil at the Milford School, died at her home (Princes Street, Temuka) in October 1938. She was survived by her husband, five sons (one having been killed in the Great War) and four daughters. Mr Andrew Webb, one of the oldest settlers in the Temuka district, died at the Timaru Hospital in January 1939. He, too, was survived by five sons (William having died in the Great War) and four daughters. All six sons of Andrew and Helen Jane Webb signed up for service in World War One. The eldest, Andrew Webb, had served in the South Africa War and was ruled out of further service on medical grounds; the second son, William Winnett Webb, was killed in action in 1915 at Gallipoli – “the eldest of the three brothers with the Main Body, sons of Mrs Webb, senr., Temuka”; the third son, Alexander Elder Edward Webb (Ted), served with the Otago Mounted Rifles; the fourth son, Henry Gordon John Webb (Gordon), was invalided home in 1916; the fifth son, Leslie Robert Sydney Webb, enlisted but saw no overseas service; and the youngest son, Seddon David Waddell Webb, served with the Otago Infantry Regiment and returned home invalided. Three cousins of the Webb brothers also served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One – Alexander Marshall whose death in 1961 was attributable to his service with the Forces, David Waddel and Edwin Waddel.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [26 October 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [2013]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2013; 11 July 2023]; Temuka Cemetery headstone images (Timaru District Council) [26 October 2013]; Temuka Leader, 12 April 1887, 12 & 17 December 1889, 14 March 1899, 24 December 1904, 16 February 1905, 16 December 1905, 15 December 1906, 21 December 1907, 22 December 1908, 28 December 1909, 17 December 1910, 16 November 1912, 2 June 1917, 17 January 1918, 5, 19 & 21 March 1918, 20 April 1918, 7 May 1918, 22 June 1918, 13 May 1919, 23 February 1926, 14 October 1926, 28 January 1928, 11 August 1932, Timaru Herald, 20 December 1912, 24 June 1916, 18 January 1918, 18 March 1918, 23 February 1920, 25 August 1921, 3 January 1922, 12 May 1926, 23 June 1926, 14 October 1926, 23 May 1929, 4 October 1938; 16 Jan 1939 [x 2], 17 Jan 1939, 19 Jan 1939, 15 November 1939, 23 December 1942, Evening Star, 19 October 1916, Evening Post, 13 March 1918, Sun, 13 March 1918, NZ Times, 14 March 1918, Waikato Times, 24 August 1921, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 6 March 1926, Press, 14 February 1929, 5 & 6 October 1938, 18 January 1939 (Papers Past) [09 April 2015; 22 May 2016; 13 January 2017; 04 February 2017; 19 July 2017; 16 December 2020; 19 July 2021; 09 August 2021; 09 April 2023; 14, 16, 19 & 20 June 2023; 10 July 2023]; Timaru Herald, 27 August 1981 (Timaru District Library) [17 April 2015]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [16 June 2023; 06 July 2023]; Temuka Presbyterian Parish baptism records [11 July 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• WEBB Seddon David Waddell - newspaper clippings (pdf, 199.4 KB updated 26-Jul-2023)

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