The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra

 
 
Private Charles Sawyers

Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Charles Edward Sylvester Sawyers

Ancestor's date of birth: 24/07/1880

Ancestor's date of death: 12/12/1927

Cause of Death: Epilepsey

Service and Life Before the Boer War: He was a Drover when he enlisted.

Service Number: 2757

Colony or State of enlistment: SA, Place of Enlistment: Salisbury

Unit: 4th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: PTE, Date Effective: 07/02/1902

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): LCPL, Date Effective: 08/05/1918

Murray Page: 384

Contingent: Second Australian

Ship: Templemore, Date of Sailing: 01/04/1902

Other Boer War Service: Nil.

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: British War Medal.

Personal Characteristics: 170 cm tall, weight 65 kg (1917), Blue Eyes, Fair Complexion (complexion ruddy by 1917).

Reasons to go and fight: Unknown

Details of service in war: His unit, 4 ACH did not see action in the Boer War.

Service and life after the Boer War: Married to Louisa and working as a carpenter when he enlisted as a Private in the AIF (Australian Flying Corps) no 3247 at Adelaide - South Australia on 13 November 1917. Posted to Laverton, Victoria, as 2nd Class Air Mechanic on 18 January 1918. Left Sydney with the Australian Flying Corps (February Re-inforcements) on the RMS Osterley on 8 May 1918. Appointed to the rank of a Lance Corporal on 9 May 1918. Served with The Australian Flying Corps Training depot Hadfield in Buckinghamshire as a Lance Corporal 8 May 1918 to 9 July 1918. Rank became 2nd Air Mechanic 10 July 1918 until 4 September 1918, then transferred to Aircraft Repair Section 5 September 1918 until his return to Australia. Returned to Australia 6 May 1919 on the 'Kaiser - I - Hind' arriving 14 June 1919. Discharged medically Unfit 17 March 1920 (epilepsy). As he had served but not seen action he was only awarded the British War Medal, and not the Victory Medal.

Note: This soldier did indicate on his AIF enlistment papers that he served in the Royal Navy for five years and in 3 LH, it is hard to work out where this fits in.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Ian Heatley, Brentford Square VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson (Charles was my mothers, Father)

 


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RUSI of NSW Boer War Battlefields