SECKHAM, BASSETT THORNE, Major, was
born 22 November 1863, eldest son of Samuel Lipscomb Seckham, JP, DL, and of Kinbarra Swene Seckham. He
was educated at Charterhouse, and joined the 4th Royal Welsh Fusiliers 18
January 1882, becoming Captain, 4th South Staffordshire Regiment, 31 May
1886, and Major 4 February 1899. He served in the South African Campaign,
1900-1; was present at actions of Lindley, Bethlehem and Winburg; OC
Infantry, with a column under Lord Methuen, at Kimberley, Barkly West,
Likatleng and Dronfield, March 1900. He took part in the operations which
ended in the surrender of Prinsloo and 4,000 men. He was mentioned in
Despatches; awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and created a
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September
1901]: "Bassett Thorne Seckham, Major, 4th Battalion South Staffordshire
Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South
Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 29 October 1901; the
warrant sent 24 January 1902. He was Lieutenant Colonel commanding 13
December 1905 to 1910; was given the honorary rank of Colonel 2 August 1908;
retired 13 December 1910. On the outbreak of the European War he offered
his services as Major, and was attached for duty to the 4th South
Staffordshire Regiment September 1914, and served with them and other
battalions of the regiment until 8 March 1919; coast defences and recruit
training. Colonel Seckham was Justice of the Peace, Staffordshire. He
married, in 1888, Alice Dorothy, daughter of W F Moore, of Cronkbourne,
Douglas, and they had one son, Lionel Bassett Lipscomb, born on 17 June
1891, and two daughters.
