CULLIVER, Seth William

Norman Seth Culliver was born in 1894 to Eli Culliver (1866-1903) and his wife Margaret Moore Culliver (1866-1943). The family lived in Drysdale, Victoria on the Bellarine Peninsula, but probably moved follwinging Eli Culliver's death in 1902. In 1914, Seth and his mother were living in Albert Park, where she was a lodging house keeper, but then moved to 58 Gipps St., East Melbourne, then 57 Simspon St., and it was here he returned in October, 1919. On his Enlistment Record, Seth writes that he was then 24, 5' 6", with red hair and brown eyes. He gave his occupation as Printer, and nominated his mother, Margaret, as his next of kin.It is possible that he had a brother or cousin: in 1919, prior to Seth's return from England there was a Francis Norman Seth Culiivan living with Margaret at 57 Simpson St.

Seth Cullivan was sent for training to Broadmeadows on  1 October, 1914 and, following training, was attached to the 6th Battery of the 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade as a Driver. From Broadmeadows, the 2nd FAB left for Egypt on board HMAT Shropshire A9 on 30 October, 1914. They disembarked in Egypt, where they underwent further training and then proceeded to join the MEF in Gallipoli, where they saw action. Seth Culliver's record is brief and lacking in information as to what he did - presumably, he fought as an infantryman, rather than acted as a driver, but his record does not even mention Gallipoli. The only intimation that he was there comes from the record of other soldiers of the same unit. It is possible, however, that he remained in Egypt over this time. 

With the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the Australian infantry retreated back to Egypt, then on to France. The next entry for Seth Culliver is that he was admitted to hospital on 1 November, 1917, suffering from Gonorrhea. And again, on 27 March, 1917, he was admitted to the 5th Australian Field Abulance, again with V.D. and sent on to hospital at Etaples, where he stayed for seventy days. 

He returned to the front and must have been up around the Ypres Salient. Other soldiers from the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade were there, one(Alfred Acreman) suffering after a gas attack, another wounded. Seth Culliver must have experienced severe conditions and stood his ground: on 20 November, 1917, he was awarded the Military Medal, awarded for outstanding courage under fire.  

Seth Culliver left the AIF early, embarking at Taranto on 24 September, 1918, for Australia. He may well have been taken ill and been in hospital there - no wound is mentioned. 

In 1919, he was registered with the Electoral Rolls as a cleaner, living at 10 Alexandra St., South Yarra., but by 1928, he is living with his wife, Myrtle and  his mother, Margaret, and back with his old job as a printer, at 49 Clyde St., Northcote. He stayed there until 1954, when he moved to 406 Burnley St. Richmond. By 1958, he was single, His wife, presumably, being dead. He was now a letterpress machinist. Following his reitrement, he moved otu to Greensborough, at 54 Parklands Avenue. Howeber, in 1967, he applied for land through a serviceman's entitlement and was givem Lot 54 Parklands Ave, Briar Hill. He stayed here until 1977, the year of his death. He died in Heidelberg, presumably at the Repatriation Hospital.