Sydney Edward Sawyers

Army, Commemorated name/s, Loos, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Sydney Edward O. Sawyers
Private 16640
8th Royal Berkshire Regiment 

 

Sawyer SE photo

Sydney Edward O. Sawyers  was the son of John and Mary Anne Sawyers who were living at 17, ElmLodgeAvenue, Reading at the time of the 1911 census. John Sawyers is recorded as an army pensioner and bank porter. Sydney is recorded as a railway clerk and younger brother Leonard a tramway conductor, Gertrude at 13 years was still at school. Sydney is commemorated on the grave of his sister Gertrude.  The grave monument is badly damaged, the grave number is 15870; the Berkshire Family History Society classification is 67C11.

 Sydney lost his life on 25th September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos.  He is buried in the Dud Corner Cemetery, location VI.E.14.  The walls of this cemetery form the massive Loos Memorial to the Missing.

Charles Victor Schofield

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Reading University College, Ypres

Charles Victor Schofield
Private 26744
3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards

Schofield CV

Charles Victor Schofield was the son of Richard and Emma Schofiled. The 1901 census has the family living at 7, Donnington Road, Reading. The family then consisted of both parents and their four children. Richard 22 was an architects assistant, Elizabeth 19 a School Board teacher, Edgar 16 a shoe repairers assistant and Charles, the youngest, who was then 9 years old. In 1911 the family were living at 135, London Road and only Charles and Edgar were living at home. Charles was a gasfitter and his brother a photographic printer.  The photograph indicates a differect address for Charles by the time he enlisted –  69, Donnington Gardens.   By the time CWGC registers were compiled after the Armistice his father, Richard William Schofield, had moved to 359, Elgar Rd.

 No service record is available for Private Schofield.The CWGC register indicates that he died of wounds on 20th December 1917 and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, location P.V.D. 3B.  It is not known how or when he was injured however, the British advance on Cambrai had started on the 20th November 1917.  The Grenadier Guards had been involved in severe fighting during Third Ypres and their Division was involved in fighting at Bourlon Wood and the counter offensive at Cambrai. Rouenwas the home to severalmilitary hospitals and Privat Schofield would have experinced the full range o  Army Medical Corps. services from battle front to base hospital before he died.

It has taken much research to establish the full name of Private Schofield who for a long time was only known to me by his initials.

Albert Edward Searing, Amos Thomas Searing & Samuel Searing

Army, Commemorated name/s, Graves, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme, Ypres

Division 56

CIMG2135

In 1911 Sarah Searing was living at 101 Watlington Street, Reading. She lived with her daughter, also called Sarah(31) and her three sons Albert (27), Amos(30) and Samuel(26).
All three were labourers, Albert worked as a bricklayer’s labourer, Amos worked at the tin factory and Samuel at the biscuit factory. In 1901 the family lived at 88 Watlington Street,The County Tap, and Sarah the mother is described as the innkeeper and her daughter as barmaid.

All three men are commemorated on their mothers grave but only their initials are given. It has taken some energy to establish thier identities.  Sister Sarah’s details are only given on the CWGC register for Albert and then no first name is supplied: Miss S. E. Searing, of 31, Cortis Avenue, Broadwater, Worthing.  Tragically all three brother have no known graves and there commemoration in the cemetery rendered them almost invisible.

Albert Edward Searing
Private 201975
1st/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Albert Searing  He died on 13th August 1917. The CWGC register states his age as 33. but it is believed, using census information, that he was 35.  He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Panel 45.  Strangely the war diary for the 1st/4th indicates that they were at Dambre camp and the battalion spent the day practicing for the forth coming attack which was due to begin on the 15 August. The record for the
13 August states two killed and seven wounded. There are no other details but the circumstances seem strange.

 Amos Thomas Searing
Private 33662
2nd  Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Amos Searing  died on 2nd April 1918. Born about 1881 he was thought to be  about 37 on his death.  He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing, Panel 56 & 57.

 Samuel Searing
Private202225
2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment

Samuel Searing  He died on 22nd August 1917 it is thought that he was about  32.  He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Panel 105, 106 and 162.