William Seabright (1883-1931) was the eldest of eight children of Thomas and Fanny (née Landy), born at Broadway. He lived with his family in Wickhamford from October 1897 to October 1900 before moving to Childswickham. At the 1901 census, his father was an agricultural labourer and William was a carter on the farm. The family later moved to Bishampton. He was a cowman in Bishampton for the 1911 census and was still living with his parents. Later in the year he married Rose Edith Ainge. They had two daughters, Doris and Gladys, by the time of the outbreak of the Great War.
William served in the 2/7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment (Nos 305486 & 1762) and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals, but his service records do not survive. The 2/7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment was raised in September 1914 and sent to India that December. It went to Basra, Mesopotamia, in September 1917.
William Seabright also received the Territorial Force War Medal. This award is relatively rare, only 34,000 being issued after the Armistice. It was given to men who had served at least four years with the Territorial forces before the outbreak of the Great War but who were ineligible for the 1914 or 1915 Star. William Seabright’s low service number would seem to corroborate this as it indicates that he had been serving before the War.
Three of William’s brothers served in the war: Thomas Henry Seabright, Hubert Seabright and Charles Alfred Seabright. It is possible that Joseph Seabright may have served, too.