Cyril Seelenmeyer

Cyril Robert Seelenmeyer MC (29 April 1892 – 8 August 1918) was an Australian rules footballer who played with University in the Victorian Football League. A veterinary surgeon, he served with the First AIF, dying of wounds on 8 August 1918.

Cyril Seelenmeyer
Personal information
Full name Cyril Robert Seelenmeyer
Date of birth (1892-04-29)29 April 1892
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Date of death 8 August 1918(1918-08-08) (aged 26)
Place of death Fouilloy, Somme, France
Original team(s) Melbourne Grammar
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1914 University 6 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1914.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

The son of Adolphe Frederic Seelenmeyer (1855-1922), M.D. and Alexandra Mary Seelenmeyer (1863-1947), née Munster,[1] he was born on 29 April 1892.[2]

Although born in England, and a British subject, Adolphe Seelenmeyer, M.D. was the target of a lot of anti-German sentiment in Melbourne during the First World War; and, as a consequence, he, and his surviving sons, all changed their name to Seeley on 22 March 1920.[3][4][5]

Melbourne University's's football team for the annual (inter-varsity) match against Adelaide University, played in Adelaide on 12 August 1914 (Seelenmeyer is at the far right of second row).

Football

He regularly played for the Melbourne University team in the Metropolitan Amateur Football Association,[6] and also played Inter-State football for the university in its inter-varsity contests. He was one of the University's best players in its 1914 inter-varsity match against Adelaide.[7]

As well, he played six times with the University First XVIII in the VFL competition in 1914:[8] making his debut on 2 May (round 2, against Essendon and, then, playing in five consecutive matches in rounds 14-18 (i.e., 18 July to 29 August), with his final match being the round 18 match against St Kilda on 29 August 1914, in which he was the best university player on the ground.[9] Although showing great promise, his military service preventing him from playing any further VFL football.[10]

He was awarded a full football blue at Melbourne University in 1914.[11]

Education

Educated at Melbourne Grammar School, he enrolled in Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne in 1910. On the basis that he was enrolled as a non-matriculated student, he qualified for his "License in Veterinary Science" in 1913.[12] He graduated Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.) in 1914.[13][14]

As a student he won the Royal Agricultural Society's silver medal.[15]

Military

Volunteering for service in the First AIF in August 1914 almost immediately after his graduation,[16] and having been attached to the 4th Brigade,[17] he served in the Middle East and in Europe with the Army Veterinary Corps during the First World War.[18]

In October 1914, he was appointed Captain;[19][20] and, on 16 April 1918, he was promoted to Major.[21] He was mentioned in General Haig's despatches of 7 April 1918.

Military Cross

He was awarded the Military Cross "in connexion with military operations in France and Flanders" in the 1918 King's Birthday Honours in June 1918.[22]

"For devotion to duty and most efficient service during the period 22 September 1917 to the 24 the February 1918 and including all the operation leading up to the capture of the Broodseinde Ridge (East of Ypres).
This Officer has performed his duties in a efficient manner notwithstanding shellfire and aeroplane bombing attacks to which the animals under his care were frequently subject.
It was largely owing to his ready assistance, care and skill, that the pack animals were enabled to keep the Batteries supplied with ammunition, notwithstanding their heavy expenditure during the above operations."[23]

Death

He was wounded in action at Fouilloy, Somme, France, on 8 August 1918. He was struck by a flying piece of shell when attending some wounded horses. Wounded in both legs, and with one of his legs nearly severed from his body, he was badly mutilated, and due to shock and his extreme loss of blood, he died of his wounds about half an hour later.[24]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Marriages: Seelenmeyer—Munster, The Argus, (Monday, 17 October 1887), p.1.
  2. Births, The Australasian, (Saturday, 14 May 1892), p.46.
  3. The (Melbourne) Herald, (Thursday 22 April 1920), p.1.
  4. History of Homoeopathy in Australia: People: Dr Adolphe Frederick Seelenmeyer.
  5. Deaths: Seeley (formerly Seelenmeyer), The Argus, (Monday, 13 November 1922), p.1; Deaths, Seeley, The Argus, (Wednesday, 1 January 1947), p.12.
  6. Metropolitan Amateur Association, The Argus, (Monday, 27 April 1914), p.6.
  7. Sporting News, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Thursday, 13 August 1914), p.15.
  8. League Practice Games: Trying Out Recruits: University, The Argus, Monday, 20 April 1914), p7.
  9. Seasiders Triumphant: St Kilda Defeat University, The (Melbourne) Winner, Wednesday, 2 September 1914), p.6.
  10. Footballers in Khaki, The Argus, (Tuesday, 2 February 1915), p.7; Roll of Honour, The Argus, (Friday, 23 April 1915), p.11; Footballers at the Front, The (Melbourne) Winner, (Wednesday, 5 May 1915), p.6.
  11. Athletics: Amateur, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 14 November 1914), p.21.
  12. University Commencement, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 11 April 1914), p.38: note that his family name is given as "Sealenmeyer".]
  13. University of Melbourne: December Annual Examinations, 1914: Including Special Examinations Held in October and November: Fifth Year Bachelor of Veterinary Science: Seelenmeyer, Cyril Robert, The Argus, (Saturday, 16 January 1915), p.18.
  14. List of Graduates: Bachelors of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Veterinary School Prospectus (1918), p.21: note that his "date of passing the final examination" is given as 1914, but no "date of degree conferral" is recorded for any of those listed.
  15. "Seelenmeyer, Cyril Robert", in University of Melbourne, Roll of the Fallen, Record of Active Service of Teachers, Graduates, Undergraduates, Officers and Servants in the European War, 1914–1918, University of Melbourne, (Melbourne), 1926, p.42.
  16. Having stated that his civil occupation was "student", his Service Record also contains the following additional statement, made at the time of his enlistment: "I had no civil occupation before the war, but was about to accept an offered appointment in State Veterinary Department Queensland."
  17. March through the City of the 4th Infantry Brigade on 17 December: (1) Colonel McGlinn, Captain Seelenmeyer, and Captain Jess, The Australasian, (Saturday, 26 December 1914), p.53.
  18. Caring for Horses, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 7 November 1914), p.43.
  19. Australian Imperial Force: Appointments, etc.: Army Veterinary Corps: To be Captains: Cyril Robert Seelenmeyer (effective 17 October 1914), Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, no.89, (Saturday, 31 October 1914), p.2437.
  20. First AIF Embarkation Roll (22 December 1914): Seelenmeyer, Cyril Robert (Captain), Australian War Memorial.
  21. Australian Imperial Force: Appointments, Promotions, etc.: Army Veterinary Corps: To be Majors: Captain C. R. Seelenmeyer (effective 16 April 1918), Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, no.109, (Thursday, 25 July 1918), p.1575.
  22. Awarded the Military Cross, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.173, (Thursday, 7 November 1918, p.2111.
  23. Recommendation for the Award of Military Cross: (proposed by Major-General E. W. Sinclair-Maclagan and approved by Brigadier-General W. L. H. Sinclair-Burgess on 1 March 1918.)
  24. Deaths: On Active Service: Seelenmeyer, The Age, (Saturday, 17 August 1918), p.5; Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau files, 1914-18 War: Major Cyril Robert Seelenmeyer.

Sources
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