Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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6568   Sergeant William Seeley
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 30/12/2015
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 10th Regiment, South African Infantry (South African Army)
Died: 20/11/1916 (Died of Illness)
Age:
Summary      
William Scilly was the son of Eliza Jane Scilly. He was one of 11 children. The family were living in Killybaskey, Moneymore by 1871. They were a farming family. The family name was spelt Scilly / Silly in most early records. By 1911, it seems to have changed to Seeley. William Seeley served in the Boer War. Sergeant William Seeley was serving with the 10th Regiment of the South African Infantry when he died in East Africa of malaria / blackwater fever on 20th November 1916. Sergeant William Seeley is buried in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery in Tanzania.
Further Information
William Scilly was the son of Eliza Jane Scilly. He was one of 11 children. The family were living in Killybaskey, Moneymore by 1871.
The family name was spelt Scilly / Silly in most early records. By 1911, it seems to have changed to Seeley.
Known Family: Eliza Jane Scilly, Daughter (born 27th October 1871), James Seeley (born 20th July 1873), Thomas Scilly (born 2nd December 1876), Annie Scilly (born about 1878), George Scilly (born 27th July 1878), John Seeley (born 29th August 1879), Jane Jennie Scilly (born 7th January 1881), Fredrick Scilly (born 14th May 1882), Sarah Scilly (born 1st September 1883). All of the children listed were born in Moneymore.
William Seeley served in the Boer War.
The 1901 census does not list William at living with the family at house 1 in Killybaskey, Lissan Upper, Londonderry. His father, had by that time, died. Two of the sons were farm labourers.
The 1911 census does not list William at house 2 in Killybaskey, Lissan Upper, Londonderry. They were a farming family.
Sergeant William Seeley was serving with the 10th Regiment of the South African Infantry when he died in East Africa of malaria / blackwater fever on 20th November 1916.
A report in a local newspaper in Gordonvale, Queensland, Australia, notes that he was a brother of Mrs Wilson Irvin and Mrs W Greenwood of Gordonvale.
From the Cairns Post (Queensland, Australia) dated Wednesday 9th May 1917: Late Sergeant Seeley
With reference to Sergeant Wm. Seeley, the brother of Mrs Wilson Irwin and Mrs W Greenwood, of Gordonvale, who died in East Africa whilst on active service, and whose portrait will shortly appear in the Herald, our Gordonvale correspondent forwards the following particulars: Sergeant William Seeley, 10th South African Infantry, died in East Africa whilst on active service from blackwater fever. Sergeant Seeley also served in the Boer War and is a brother of Mrs Wilson Irvin and Mrs W Greenwood of Gordonvale.
Sergeant William Seeley is buried in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery in Tanzania.
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Relevant Cookstown Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Killybaskey Lissan Census listing in Killybaskey, Lissan Upper 54.681290 -6.737659
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Scilley family 1901 Census does not list William at house 1 in Killybaskey, Lissan Upper, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Seeley family 1911 Census does not list William at house 2 in Killybasky, Lissan Upper, Londonderry
3 Cairns Post 9th May 1917 An obituary to William Seeley
4 South Africa War Graves Project Details of Sergeant William Seeley including grave photo
5 W. Seeley, South African Infantry The only W. Seeley who served with the South African Forces
6 War Graves Photographic Project Gravestone photo of William Seeley can be purchased here.
Cookstown District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2010-2023