David Seaton

David Seaton was born on 18th February 1889 in Corryong, Victoria, to Robert Seaton and Janet Alexandrina, nee Henderson. 

On the 19th February 1015, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 25-year-old customs officer from Corryong, Victoria. He was allocated Regimental Number 31 and placed in the 1st Reinforcements of the Australian Army Pay Corps. David gave his next of kin as his mother, Janet Seaton. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A54 Runic at Melbourne, Victoria, on 25th February 1915.

David was attached to the AIF’s Headquarters in London before being transferred to the Australian Records Section in June of 1916. Two months later, he was sent to AIF Records, 3rd Echelon in Rouen, France.

David married Dorothy Mary Purdon-Stoute on the 2nd July 1919 at the Church of Ireland in the Parish of Lismore, Ireland. 

The 3rd November 1919 issue of the Corryong Courier reported on the wedding.

“SEATON - PURDON STOUTE

The “Irish Times”, published at Dublin, of July 7th last, contains the following marriage notice, which will be of interest to the peoples of this district :- “Seaton and Purdon-Stoute - July 2, 1919 at Templemichael Church. Youghal, by the Very Rev. H. M. M. Hackett, assisted by the Rev. A. Crone, Rector, David, third son of the late Robert Seaton Esq., and Mrs Robert Seaton, of Corryong, Upper Murray, Victoria, Australia, to Dorothy Mary, youngest daughter of the late Nicholas Purdon-Stoute, Esq., and Prs Purdon-Stoute, of Springmount, Youghal.” - Sergeant Dave Seaton has now nearly completed five years’ service with the A.I.F., having been attached to the Pay Corps since sailing. He is expected home before Xmas, being amongst the last to demobilise.”

On 5th December 1919, he returned to Australia aboard the SS Lucie Woermann, with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was discharged on 20th April 1920, being awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service during the war.

In 1921, David and Dorothy had a daughter, Mary Kathleen Seaton. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in early May of 1924 when Dorothy passed away at the age of 31. She was laid to rest at the Warringal Cemetery in Heidelberg, Victoria. It is known that in 1936, David was living at 41 Suffolk Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria.