Harry Vernon Seddall
Commander R.N.R. Harry Vernon Seddall, R.D. (25 February, 1887 – 4 July, 1930) served in the Royal Naval Reserve. He would serve in command of minesweepers during the war, and be mined twice.
Life & Career
Seddall was promoted to Midshipman on 6 February, 1905 and made Sub-Lieutenant on 12 November, 1912. Having recently been in Irresistible, he was graded as being able to read 15 words per minute by semaphore and 9 words per minute by flashing.
Seddall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant R.N.R. on 2 August, 1915. He worked in minesweeping through much of the war. In 1916 he was recommended by Vice-Admiral, Stornoway for good service.[1]
He was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal for attempting to save a man's life at sea in 1917.
Seddall married Catherine Campbell MacLennan on 24 April, 1919 in Old Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. He was appointed in command of the torpedo gunboat Circe at the time, helping to command Admiralty drifters in Norwegian waters.[2][3]
Seddall was demobilised on 1 March, 1920.
Seddall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. on 2 August, 1923, having attained a first-class certificate in torpedoes on 27 July.[4]
Seddall was promoted to the rank of Commander R.N.R. on 30 June, 1929.[5]
Seddall died aged 43 on 4 July 1930, when serving as first officer aboard the R.M.S. Tainui. He was lost at sea during a cyclone as he worked leading his men to repair the #3 hatch against seas driven by winds estimated at 90 miles per hour.[6][7]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Thomas P. Webb |
Captain of H.M.S. Circe Oct, 1917[8] – 1 Mar, 1920 |
Succeeded by Vessel Decommissioned |
| Preceded by Aubrey R. C. Douton |
Captain of H.M.S. PC 61 c. 9 Jun, 1919[9] |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
- ↑ Seddall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/57/39. f. 39.
- ↑ Wikitree page maintained by Bill Norton.
- ↑ Seddall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/57/39. f. 39.
- ↑ Seddall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/57/39. f. 39.
- ↑ Seddall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 240/57/39. f. 39.
- ↑ Wikitree page maintained by Bill Norton.
- ↑ "Steamer's Battle with Cyclone." The Times (London, England), 7 Aug. 1930, p. 12.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 757.
- ↑ "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), 27 May 1919, p. 18.
