L/Cpl 16397 Frederick Francis Seiffert

• Age: 29
• From: Boston Massachusetts USA
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16397 Lance Corporal Frederick Francis SEIFFERT, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Frederick Francis Seiffert was born on 17th July 1887 in Boston, Massachusetts, the youngest of three sons born to Francis William Otto and his wife Sarah (nee Bergman). Otto was born in Eckartsberg, Germany in 1852 and Sarah in London in 1848. They were married at St James the Less, Bethnal Green on 20th July 1878, Otto was a clerk, father William(deceased), whilst Sarah’s father was Abraham(deceased), both of 19 Gloster St. Their eldest son, Percy Moritz was born in London on the 9th May 1879. Their second son, Gerald Walter was also born in London on the 17th Sept 1882 and sometime after that the family left Lewisham, London, where they lived in 1881 and travelled to the USA, where Frederick was born. 

In 1891, Percy, a commission agent with the American Exchange, is a visitor in Lambeth, London, with a family named Kelly.

By 1901, Otto and Sarah have returned to the UK and are living with Gerald, an 18 year old grocer’s assistant, and 13 year old Frederick at 314 Rice Lane, Walton, Liverpool. Father Otto aged 48, born in Germany, is said to be a naturalised British subject and is employed as a foreign correspondence clerk, mother Sarah is aged 48 born in Hackney, London. 

In 1911, Otto and Sarah still live at 314 Rice Lane with Frederick, now aged 23 and a commercial clerk for a general broker. Father Otto is aged 59, a commercial clerk, mother Sarah is aged 63 and they advised that they have been married for 32 years and have had three children. His brother Percy lives with his wife and three young children at 29 Hilbre Road, West Kirby. Whilst Gerald Walter married in 1911.  

Frederick enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on 31^st August 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16397, giving his age as 27 years 90 days, born USA but British by parentage, his occupation as clerk with Messrs. J R Pattinson & Co produce brokers of 9 Rumford Street, Liverpool and his next of kin as his father of 314 Rice Lane. He is described as being 5' 8" tall, weight 137lbs, 38” chest, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His religion is stated as Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.   

In August 1915 he was confined to barracks for 4 days and forfeited 2 days pay for being AWOL for 27 hours. 

He crossed to France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on the 07^th November 1915.

On 1^st January 1916 Frederick was appointed Lance Corporal (Unpaid), only to forfeit his stripe on 04^th May 1916 for being drunk in his billet. On 23^rd June 1916 he was again appointed Lance Corporal (unpaid).

Frederick was killed in action at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916, aged 29.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

Frederick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Misisng of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He was engaged to be married when he was killed. His fiancée Louie placed a notice in the Liverpool Daily Post on 18^th July 1916:  

“July 1, killed in action, in his 29^thyear, Frederick Francis (“Pals”).  (Sadly mourned by his sorrowing Fiancée Louie and all at 123 Oakfield Road, Liverpool.)”

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on 19th July 1916: 

PRODUCE TRADE CLERK.  

The death in action in France Corporal Francis F. Seiffert is reported. His parents reside at 413(sic), Rice-lane, Walton. Before joining he was a clerk in the employ of Messrs. J. R. Pattinson and Co., produce brokers, 9, Rumford-street, Liverpool.  

His death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on 20th July 1916:

The death in action in France Corporal Francis F. Seiffert is reported. His parents reside at 413. Rice-lane, Walton. Before joining he was a clerk in the employ of Messrs. J. R. Pattinson and Co., produce brokers. 9, Rumford-street, Liverpool. 

His effects and medals were sent to his father who signed for his son’s 1914-15 Star on 22^nd June 1920, although records suggest that he in fact died in 1919. Having said that, his father submitted a sworn declaration dated 14^th July 1919 which said Frederick’s surviving family were his parents and brothers, Percy Moritz aged 40 and Gerald Walter aged 36.

Percy Seiffert enlisted in the Royal Highlanders as Private 16394 and also served with the Labour Corps with the number 382410. 

Father died aged 68 in 1919 and was buried on the 15th Oct at Kirkdale Cemetery and the mother died aged 80 in 1929. 

We currently have no further information on Frederick Francis Seiffert, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.