Trafford

Born during the March quarter 18691 in the West Derby R.D. - ref: 8b/366,
the youngest son of Charles & Annie Secker (nee Cann).

1891 Census - 16 Whitefield Lane, Kirkdale, Liverpool.   Son - aged: 4
months - born: Liverpool.    Head of household - Charles Secker - Married -
aged: 30 - occ: Painter - born: Wattom, Norfolk.   Also - Annie Secker -
Wife - aged: 25 - born: Liverpool.   Plus 2 elder brothers.

1901 Census - Huxley Street, Dunham Massey.   Son - aged: 10 - born:
Liverpool.   Head of household - Charles Secker - Married - aged: 39 - occ:
House Painter - born: Norwich, Norfolk.   Also - Annie Secker - Wife -
aged: 35 - born: Liverpool.   Plus 2 elder brothers.

1911 Census - 2 Huxley Street, Dunham Massey.  Son - aged: 20 - occ: Iron
Fitter at Engineers - born: Liverpool.   Head of household - Charles Secker
- Married - aged: 49 - occ: House Painter & Decorator (own account) - born:
Norwich, Norfolk.   Also - Annie Secker - Wife - aged: 46 - born:
Liverpool.

WO363 - Enlisted at Manchester into the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots on the
31st January 1915.  He was medically examined at Peebles on the 20th May
1915.   Recorded as 24 years of age and employed as a Clerk.   He was 5
feet 4½ inches in height - chest measurement 34 inches with a 2½ inch
expansion (31½ - 34).

From his base at Edinburgh, he embarked at Devonport on the 5th September
1915 and arrived at Alexandria on the 15th to join the Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force.   Embarked for the 'Western Frontier' on the 1st
December 1915.    [Note: this 'Western Frontier' is in Egypt - To the west
of British-controlled Egypt, Arab and Berber tribes were being agitated by
German and Turkish propaganda, fuelled by German money. Various hostile
acts began to be committed against the frontier posts].    Embarked at
Alexandria on the 8th May 1916 and arrived at Marseilles, France on the
16th, when they amalgamated with the 5th Bn to become the 5/6th Bn, serving
in the 32nd Division, 14th Brigade. 

Herbert was killed on the last day of the Battle of the Ancre 13th - 18th
November 1916, one of the many engagements of the Battle of the Somme
1916.

In March 1821, Miss A. Hampson, 15 Randolf Street, Levenshulme, wrote
stating that she was his "intended" and would like a copy of his memorial
plaque.  She apologises for the delay in writing, but states that she has
only just learned about the plaques from her sister who had received one
due to her son having been killed.   A reply from Hamilton dated 29th March
1921 regrets that only one plague can be issued and only to the next of
kin.

In September 1917, his father was residing at 1 Huxley Street.   On the
26th January 1920 his father was listed as residing at 22 Heywood Grove,
Brooklands.    On the 1st June 1922 the Infantry Records Office at Hamilton
sent his watch, a knife and a New Testament Bible to his mother at 20 Lilac
Road, Hale.  On the 9th May 1927, his father wrote from 20 Lilac Road, Hale
asking for details of when Herbert enlisted and record, etc., as he needed
it for his Old Age Pension application - he was then aged: 65 (OAP
qualification age). 

Death reported in the 12/12/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.  
Listed as Herbert Seeker on SDGW.    Listed as having served with the South
Lancashire Rgt on the Linotype Memorial.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in Hale Cemetery.   His
father, Charles died 20/12/1932 aged 73 years and his mother died
16/03/1925 aged 61 years.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.