The AIF Project

Abraham Prosser SAWYER

Regimental number4605
Place of birthNeerim South, Victoria
SchoolState School, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressNeerim South, Gippsland, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 10.75"
Weight186 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs E Sawyer, Neerim South, Gippsland, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date2 August 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name7th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/24/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on 28 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France
Age at death27
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 17), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
168
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Isaac and Emma SAWYER, Neerim South, Victoria
Family/military connectionsCousins: 4192 Pte Wilfred Thomas EMERY, 7th Bn, killed in action, 18 August 1916; 1733 Pte Hugh Robert STEPHENS, 59th Bn, returned to Australia, 19 June 1919; 1763 Sergeant Walter Edwin STEPHENS, 59th Bn, killed in action, 29 November 1917.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Transferred to and taken on strength, 57th Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916.

Trasferred to 59th Bn, 3 April 1916.

Sick to hospital, Hog's Back, 10 May 1916; rejoined unit same day (no further details recorded).

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Presume Buried In No Man's Land approx 5J90 43 to 5K02.5.1 Sheet Hazebrouck 5A'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 2420308, 3131 Pte J. HENRY, A Company, 59th Bn 11 April 1917: He was "knocked" a few minutes after we went over the top at Fleurbaix on 19th. July. I saw him lying on the ground doubled up. He was rolling around as if shot in the stomach. I had to carry on and did not see him again.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, SAWYER Abraham Prosser
Red Cross File No 2420308

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