GEOFFREY JAMES SAWYER

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Images and information courtesy of Rod and Deborah.

Born: 30th May 1921, Ipswich.

Died: 18th April/1st May 1943; age 21; MPK.

Residence: Heathercroft, 216, Heath Road, Ipswich.

Rank: Leading Signalman; Service Number: C/JX 15193.

Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M. Submarine ‘Regent.’

Memorial Reference:

70.3.

Chatham Naval Memorial,

Chatham,

Kent.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of James Walter & Elizabeth Marie Sawyer, of Ipswich.

Father: James Walter Sawyer, born 1895, Ipswich.

Mother: Elizabeth Marie Sawyer (nee Stevens), born 1896, Maidstone, Kent.

CENSUS

1921   17, Phoenix Road, Ipswich.

Geoffrey was 3 weeks old and lived with his parents at the home of his paternal grandparents.

Stephen Mayhew, 50 years old, Carter – own account, of Golden Key, Ipswich, born Leison, Suffolk.

Alice Mayhew (1st marriage Sawyer (nee Bennett)), 49 years & 8 months, Home Duties, born Otley, Suffolk.

James Sawyer, 25 years & 9 months, a Labourer at the Gas Works, at Ipswich.

Elizabeth Sawyer, 25 years & 4 months old, Home Duties.

visitor – Alice Davies, 62 years & 3 months old, born Bloomsbury, Middlesex.

Probate to Elizabeth Marie Sawyer -mother.

Geoffrey and his mother Elizabeth 1921.

Geoffrey in his back garden. 1920’s

Geoffrey aged 8 and his younger brother Terence aged 5.

Geoffrey 1929 aged 8.

Terence and Geoffrey

Geoffrey aged 8. Choirboy, believed to be Rushmere St. Andrew, 1929. 

Geoffrey and Terence on holiday at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk 1932.

H.M.S Ganges training camp.

Geoffrey and his shipmate Don Smith 1937, during training at H.M.S Ganges, Shotley Suffolk.

Geoffrey was posted to H.M.S Ramillies, the ship served in the Mediterranean 1940-45  

From 10th February 1942 to 18th September H.M.S Regent underwent a refit at Philadelphia U.S.A. Where during shore leave Geoffrey was able to visit his aunt and uncle Ada and Fred at Hamilton, Ontario Canada.

Geoffrey is also remembered on the war memorial at Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.

18th April/1st May 1943 – H.M. Submarine ‘Regent’

H.M. Submarine ‘Regent’ was of the R Class. Built by Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness). She was launched on the 11th June 1930 and commissioned on the 11th November 1930.

On the 11th April 1943 ‘Regent’ sailed from Malta for interception patrol in the southern Adriatic. On the 18th April she carried out a torpedo attack on mercantile ‘Baltic’ north of Monopoli. The torpedo missed her target and exploded on shore. She was sunk with all hands lost after a depth charge attack from the Italian destroyer ‘Gabbiano’. The loss was discovered when the submarine failed to return to base at Beirut, Lebanon on the 1st May 1943.

(Note : BENEATH THE WAVES records loss may have been by mine but other reliable sources state loss was due to this direct enemy attack.)