Name
(Ernest) Bernard Sawyer(*1)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/1666
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 99 to 101
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Hitchin Town Memorial, St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
*1 confusing some records give him as Edward Bernard and some Bernard Blackwell Sawyer.
Bernard was born around 1883 in Hitchin and baptised on 24 Mar 1883 in Holy Savior, Hitchin. His parents were Henry and Jessie Amelia Sawyer (née Merrall).
In 1891 the family were living at 1 Dacre Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Henry (42) and Jessie (sometime Amelia) (39), with Henry working as a baker. Their children were: Ida F M (16), Annie E (14), Ernest M (12), Mabel E (11), Hilda M (9), Bernard Blackwall ( 8) and Albert Henry Merrall and Jessie Louise Merrall – both one.
In 1901 the family were at the same address. Both parents were present, with Henry now a master baker working for himself. The only children still present were Hilda, Albert and Jessie. Although Swinderiah Merrell (88), Jessie’ mother was with them. Bernard had enlisted into the army sometime before and served in the Boer War in the 4th Bedfordshires. He was recorded there in Mafeking on 15 July 1901
He married Alice Mary Cox (b 1/8/1874) in Walkern on 13 February 1904. She already had a child, Marion Sybil (b 10/6 1902), and they had two more together, Hilda Mary (b 5/1/1905) and Ida Doreen (b 23/10/1909).
By 1911 the Bernard and Alice and the three children listed were living at 93 Letchmore Green Road, Stevenage. Bernard working as a carman. The census recorded they had been married for 8 years with 4 children, of whom 1 had died.
He attested on 19 October 1914 – probably called from the Army Reserve, giving his home address as St Saviours, Hitchin, Herts. He was 32 years and 7 months old, working as a baker and married. He was an ‘old’ soldier having served in the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment and had left ‘time expired’. He was described as 5’ 3”, weighing 136 lbs, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair.
Officially Bernard was recorded as born in St. Saviour (Hitchin), Herts, and enlisting in St. Albans, Herts.
Wartime Service
He was given the Regimental Number G/1666 and posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. As he had served he required less training and was sent overseas early, landing on France on 3 December 1914.
His Battalion was part of the 85th Brigade in the 28th Division of I Corps in the 1st Army. He remained in France until 3 January 1915 when he returned to the UK, presumably due to wounding, accident of illness and remained here until 7 June 1915 when returned to France.
He was first reported as missing in action on 27 September 1915, which coincided with the Battle of Loos when, on the 27th September 1915, the Battalion moved up to the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Vermelles. They arrived at 1.00pm and had to remain in the open until they moved up in support at 2.00am on the 28th September 1915. Casualties were heavy.
His family made enquiries for information from British Red Cross & Order of St John on 26 January 1916, so must have still been hoping that he was a prisoner of war, but the Hertfordshire Mercury of 22 April 1916, reported that his death was now confirmed. So he presumed to have been killed on or since 27 September 1915.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panels 99-101 of the Loos Memorial to the Missing in France.
On 6 March 1917 his personal property was sent to his widow 1 Camp View Road, St Albans and later, in October 1919, she was recorded, for the purposed pf sending personal effects and medals his medals at Heather Cott?, Luton Road, Harpenden. The latter were sent to her in batches, in 1920 and 1921.
Additional Information
After his death 2s 6d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Alice, on 6 March 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 15 October 1919.
His pension cards record x, his widow, Alice Mary Sawyer, as his next of kin, living first at Southwood, Pinner and later at 1 Camp View Road, St Albans. She was awarded a pension of 23s a week from 5 June 1916 for herself and their children listed as Hilda Mary (b 5/1/1905), Ida Doreen (b 23/10/1909) and Marion Sybil (b 10/6 1902) listed as an illegitimate stepchild. This was increased to 26s 3d from 4 April 1917.
Alice remarried on 16 February 1918, to Arthur Francis who was a chauffeur, at that time was paid £35 7s 3d in lieu of her pension, The children’s portion continued to be paid.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
