Joseph Thomas ‘Tom’ Lawrence Seward

SEWARD, Joseph Thomas -‘Tom’ Lawrence- – – SPC 1900-1904 & 1910-1911

DoB:- – 1890, Ballarat

Father:- – Stephen Seward, Craig’s Hotel, Ballarat

Mother:- – Mary Ellen -‘Nellie’, nee Kelleher

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Tom was a boarder at St Patrick’s with his three brothers, Leo (SPC 1898-1903), Harrie Stephen (SPC 1897-1898), and Stephen -‘Steenie’ Aloysius (SPC 1900-1906). Leo did not enlist for service in WWI.

Tom Seward was involved in many aspects of school life at St Patrick’s College. Not only was he considered -‘one of the best on ground’ in the junior football season in 1904, he also sat the Piano exam at the Royal College of Music. He left the College at the end of 1904 and worked -‘in business’, but he returned in 1910 to complete his Matriculation.

He was Captain of the football team in 1910, participated in the billiards tournament and athletics carnival, and was the second Prefect of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the College Annual of 1916-1917, there was a touching tribute to Tom and the Seward brothers –

-‘-¦ Sergt Tom Seward has also gone to the front as a member of the Dental Corps. Tom’s association with SPC extends over a longer period than even Harry’s or Leo’s. Tom entered the College as a child, and no one who saw him, a tiny little fellow in these early years, would think he would become the strong, broad-shouldered man we see today. There is no doubt but the climate of Ballarat, with the exercises of the gymnasium, rowing, handball, and other vigorous forms of sport built up Tom like many another SPC student.

After a short time in business, Tom returned to the College, matriculated and passed with credit the examinations of the dentistry course in the Melbourne University. After leaving the University he spent some years in a very successful practice in New Zealand, but he, too, like Harry, answered his country’s call and entered the army. SPC can claim no one more loyal and true than Tom among its old Collegians -¦’

Service No:- 16028

Rank:- – Captain

Unit:- – Aust Medical Corps (AMC) Dental Detail

Tom Seward enlisted on 27 April, 1916. He was 26 years and eight months old, a single man, who was five feet, seven and three quarters inches tall, and with a medium complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His profession was dental surgeon.

Tom Seward embarked from Melbourne aboard the Themestocles, on 28 July 1916, arriving in England. Over the next couple of years, while working in UK, he was promoted in rank to Lieutenant, in 1917, and to Captain in January 1918.

He proceeded overseas to France in June 1918, and was taken on strength at the No 35 Dental Unit in France. By October 1918, he proceeded via Dunkirk to Headquarters in London, and prepared for his return to Australia. He embarked on the Ascanius on 27 January 1919 and returned home.

On his return to civilian life, Tom lived initially in Ballarat at Craig’s Hotel. By 1931 he was married, and with his wife Marjorie lived in South Yarra. He continued with his dental practice his entire life. Tom died in 1974, aged 84 years.