Etc. -- Charlton Sebring, Killed in Action, 1918
Introduction | Source Documents | Other Sources | Photocopies | Back
 
The following is extracted from a letter home from Pte. Wm. H. Earl 
in France to his wife Lula, published on page 5 article in the 
23 Aug 1917 issue of the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.

"Tell your Dad that I saw Chart Sebring. He is a second cook now for one of the Canadian battalions. He said to tell your Dad that he is still alive and well and often thinks of him and the load of wood he bought from him."  

 

The following is from a page 1 article in the 29 Aug 1918 issue of the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.

Norfolk Casualties
Killed in Action

11780 Corporal Harry James Murphy of Simcoe
 
796612 Pte. Charlton Sebring of Simcoe   

 

And from the same source...

PTE. CHARLTON SEBRING

796612 Pte. Charlton Sebring of Simcoe. 
Killed in Action. Youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. 
Spencer Sebring.
 
 

The following is from page 3 of the 12 Sep 1918 issue of the Simcoe Reformer newspaper.

Charlton Sebring A Good Soldier
Letters from his Officers and a "Pal"

Mrs. Alma Sebring, widow of Sapper Charlton Sebring, whose death at the front was reported in The Reformer a week or two ago, has received the following letters.

Mrs. Sebring has asked us to thank the people who, since the news of her husband's death reached Simcoe, have been so kind and sympathetic to her in her sorrow.

Dear Mrs. Sebring: -- You will no doubt have by this time been officially informed of your husband's death, which occurred on the night of the 10th inst. A bomb dropped by an enemy aeroplane fell close to his hut, in which he was sleeping with two friends. and mortally wounded him. He died apparently without pain a few minutes afterwards.

As an old member of my company, before the breaking up of the 123rd Canadians, I was well aware of his high standing with the officers and men of the company.

He was a brave and efficient soldier and his loss will be keenly felt by all. On behalf of the remaining officers and men of the old company, I extend our heartfelt sympathy in your loss.
                             E. Breen, Major, Ninth, C.E.F.
                             France, 11 Aug 1918

---------  ----------  ----------

                               3rd Brigade, Can. Engineers
                               France, 11 Aug 1918
Dear Mrs. Sebring: -- Before this reaches you, no doubt you will have received official notice of the death of your husband, Sapper Charlton Sebring, (796612), who was killed by a bomb that fell from an aeroplane near to where he was sleeping on Saturday night.

In the presence of his commanding officer and several of his comrades we reverently laid away his body yesterday, in a new British plot, not far from the place where his life was given, and the location of his grave will be carefully registered so that it may be found at any future time.

It was not my privilege to have known you husband, as I have only recently become attached to this brigade, but I am able to assure you that his loss is greatly regretted by all his associates in his battalion and throughout the whole brigade.

I trust that you may find some consolation in the thought that his life was given in the realization of a noble cause, and in so serving to the point of supreme sacrifice he was following in the footsteps of the One who gave his life for the redemption of mankind.

May the conscious companionship of the living Christ be the source of continuous comfort to you in the loneliness of these days.
                                  Very sincerely yours,
                                  F. W. Anderson, Captain, Chaplain

---------  ----------  ----------

                                                       France, 11 Aug 1918
Dear Madame: -- I am taking this liberty of addressing you by letter with the intention of breaking sad news to you, that of the death of your husband, Charlie Sebring, one of my chums, doing service with me in France.

He was suddenly killed in his sleep by the dropping of a bomb into the bivouac in which he and two companions were sleeping, they also being instantly killed.

Nothing can greatly minimize the force of the shock caused by the receipt of such unhappy news, but I know, Mrs. Sterling, that it will be a source of some solace to you to know that he did not suffer.

I was thankful to note in fact, as he always hoped to spare all his people bad news. Therefore, he would be glad to know that I could tell you of his instant death, since the fates had ordered that he was to die out here.

We dreamed dreams together of our return to Canada, he never being burdened with the thought that he would fail to do so.

Charlie had many friends in the company. These were not peacetime friends, that might hang around one for money and to drink with one, but rather the kind of men who in dangerous places, are strong and can trust each other; when wet will halve their dry clothes; and when cold "double up" and sleep together. In fact we can ill spare him.

In the last months we spent much time together, he telling me of his friends, relatives, of you, of his dogs, ferrets, guns and also of his friends the Coates.

We worked together; during spare times made brass bracelets out of shell casing, and I know of the one made and sent to you. Therefore, I took off his own and am going to send it to you when possible, as it is of the same design and I know that will like to get it.

I think he had already sent back to you some photos which you had sent him and if he has not, they will be returned to you.

Sincerely sorry for you, although helpless to assist, I remain,
                                                      Charlie's friend,
                                                      R. G. Baker

 

The following is from page 5 of the 31 Oct 1918 Simcoe Reformer newspaper.

BILLY VAN BROCKLIN WRITES

The following letter from Private W. H. Van Brocklin 
of Simcoe, has been received by Mrs. Hoffman of Windsor, sister of Private Cherlton Sebring, who was killed in France by a bomb from a German airplace:

                                                          France, 30 Sep 1918.
Mrs. Alex. Hoffman,
53 Erie Street West,
Windsor, Ont.
My Dear Friend, -- Your lletter was received today asking me to assist in obtaining particulars of the death of your brother, Charlton. Well, it is true, and I can tell you it certainly touched my heart, for Charlton was always a personal friend of mine, not only in war time, but also in civilian life.

He was killed on the 12th or 13th of August, about 11 o'clock at night. He was with the engineers. They were billeted about four kilometers from Amiens, when the Bosche came over in one of his large Gothas. 

The place Charlton was in was not bombproof, as it was only a small dugout, just back of a small orchard. There were three of his mates with him who were also killed. The German dropped a spring almost in the entrance of the dugout.

The camp I am in is only a short distance from Amiens, so I did all I could possibly do in finding out particulars.

.Charlton is buried in a small graveyard of which there are several along this front, and I fixed it up as nicely as they would allow me to. 

I can realize how his dear mother and wife must have taken the sad news of his death to heart.

Hoping when this reaches you it will find you and all the family in the very best of health. I remain,
                                                  Your very sincere friend,
                                                  W. H. Van Brocklin
 
 

Also see Charlton's Attestation Paper: side 1 | side 2.


Charlton Sebring

 
Copyright 2013-2015 John Cardiff