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Private Mervyn Seawright

 

Mervyn Seawright was born of 28 May 1899 at 63 Cumberland Street, Belfast, the eighth of nine children of iron turner James Seawright and his wife Annabella (nee Condy). His father died before Mervyn's tenth birthday and his mother less than two years later.

Seawright enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 2 and 19 September 1916 (No.2270 – later Corps of Hussars No.71730), at the age of just 17 years.

In January 1918 he embarked for Egypt with a draft of North Irish Horsemen from the Antrim camp. There he was attached to the 1/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers). At the beginning of July 1918 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) (No.169474).

On 25 October 1919 Seawright was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

He married Elizabeth Bell in Belfast on 22 August 1923.

 

Seawright's older brother Alfred also served in the war, with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles and the 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.

 

 

Image of Seawright's pocket mirror kindly provided by Bracken Anderson.