WILLIAM HAZELTON 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.
Born: 1883, Ipswich.
Died: 5th December 1914; age 31; died of wounds received the previous day at No. 8 Clearing Hospital, Bailleul.
Enlistment Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
Date of Entry Therein: 15th August 1914.
Rank: Company Quartermaster Sergeant; Service Number: 5845
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Clasp.
Grave Reference:
A.18.
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of the late Mr. & Mrs. J. Sawyer; husband of Letitia R. Sawyer, of 50, Risbygate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
CENSUS
1891 30, Elliott Street, Ipswich.
William was 8 years old and living with his mother, siblings & nephew.
Emma Elizabeth Sawyer (nee Fitch), 43, born Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Violet Elizabeth Sawyer, 21, a Corset Worker, born Woodbridge.
Alice Harriet Sawyer, 19, a Corset Worker, born Woodbridge.
Robert James Sawyer, 15, an Errand Boy, born Ipswich.
Edith Ellen Sawyer, 11, born Ipswich.
Ethel Elizabeth Sawyer, 10, born Ipswich.
Emily May Sawyer, 5, born Ipswich.
William Frederick A. Sawyer, 3, born Ipswich.
In 1891, William’s father, Robert Sawyer, was 43 years old and a Foreman Baker at High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, for Mary Jane Reading, a widow and baker and confectioner – own account.
1901 Depot Suffolk Regiment, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
William was 18 years old, a Soldier ranked a Private in the Suffolk Regiment – Infantry.
1911 Goojerat Barracks, Station Hospital, Circular Road, Colchester, Essex.
William was 29 years old, a Soldier ranked a Corporal in the Suffolk Regiment.
William’s mother, Emma Elizabeth Sawyer, died in 1897 in Bury St. Edmunds.
Robert Sawyer, a journeyman baker and confectioner, died by his own hand on the 29th June 1899, at Tostock, near Bury St. Edmunds.
Bury and Norwich Post – Tuesday, 4th July 1899 – SUICIDE OF A BURY BAKER AT TOSTOCK – On Saturday evening, Mr. R. H. Wilson, Coroner for the Liberty of Bury St. Edmunds, held an inquest at the Gardener’s Arms Inn, Tostock, relative to the death of Robert Sawyer, a journeyman baker, about 52 years of age, who formerly resided in the locality of the Fornham Road, and more recently in Cannon Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
Alice Harriet Wingfield (nee Sawyer), wife of Albert Edward Wingfield, of Bury St. Edmunds, and daughter of Robert Sawyer, stated that her father went to work for Mr. Harry Elmer, at Woolpit, about a fortnight ago. He had previously been employed in Bury St. Edmunds. Harriet last saw her father on Tuesday last week, when he seemed hopeful and thought he should get on. He had been low-spirited at times seems her mother died, a year and eight months ago, especially when he was out of work. Robert had told Harriet that he felt as if he would destroy himself, and if he had much more worry, that is what he thought he would do. He had a very bad cold this year; Harriet thought it was influenza.
Emma Nunn, wife of John Nunn, landlord of the Gardener’s Arms Inn, Tostock, stated that Robert came to the house on Thursday, about midday. He asked for a glass of Burton ale, which he paid for and drank. Emma Nunn followed him to the door and saw him turn off to the right.
Harry Elmer, of Woolpit, a miller and baker, stated that Robert Sawyer was in his employ for a fortnight and suited well. Harry did not notice his being worried. Robert baked bread on Thursday.
Edgar Tricker, innkeeper at Woolpit, said he had known Robert some years. He had helped Robert get the bread into the oven on Thursday. Robert had said, “I feel worried about the round and the books, and do not feel capable of doing them.” Edgar identified the knife as having belonged to Robert.
Jack Buckle, of Tostock, eleven years old, stated that he was on the footpath, going through Mr. Terry’s field, on Thursday evening, about six o’clock, when he saw the deceased lying among the barley in his shirt and trousers. Jack went again on Saturday morning about ten o’clock, and he was still there. Jack then went and told the police. On Thursday evening, Jack thought the deceased was asleep and did not recognise him. He told his mother on Thursday night that he thought the man was asleep.
Police-constable Siadden, stationed at Tostock, said that he went to the field about a quarter-past eleven on Saturday morning, and saw the deceased lying on his back in the barley, about three yards from the ditch. In the ditch, he found a cap, collar, tie, jacket, and waistcoat, and the knife with blood on it. In the jacket, he found some money and small articles, but no paper, except an account book. There was blood in the ditch. The deceased’s throat was cut.
Dr. Orby Wood, of Woolpit, stated that he had made a post-mortem examination of the body and found there were six cuts on the throat, all quite superficial, not enough to cause death. He also found a wound above the ankle, going deeply into the muscle. The doctor did not think the deceased had died from either of the cuts; he probably fainted and laid there some time alive. Death was attributed to exhaustion.
The Jury returned a verdict of “Suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.”
On New Year’s Day 1912, at St. John’s Church, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, 28 year old William, a soldier, of 96, Fornham Road, Bury St. Edmunds, married 25 year old Letitia Rosaline Witton, born February 1886, Thetford, Norfolk – daughter of Alfred Walter Witton, a bricklayer, and Frances Sarah Hurrell Witton (nee Clarke), of 2, Albert Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
Letitia and William had one daughter:
Olive Edith Sawyer, born on the 20th October 1912, Aldershot, Hampshire and baptised on the 24th November 1912, at St. George’s Church, Aldershot.
Soldiers’ Effects to Letitia Rosalind Sawyer – widow.
Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion:
Regimental records show: The 4th of December saw two accidents in the trenches, one being a trench collapse due to weather conditions, killing two men. The other being a bomb which was being examined, exploded, killing A/Sgt. E. W Dunn and severely wounding C.Q.M.S Sawyer, Sgt.Place and Pte H.Chinnery.
editor’s note:
Harry Wisbey was born in Nayland, Suffolk, in 1876. He had served as a soldier in the Boer War before being accepted as an Army Scripture Reader in 1900. His role was to travel with a regiment both on home and active service, distributing gospels and testaments, and talking with the men about Christ. He was attached to the 2nd Suffolk Regiment, which was sent as part of the British Expeditionary Force to Belgium in the autumn of 1914. There, he witnessed the Retreat from Mons and the distress of the Belgian refugees. As he held no official army position, merely being allowed to accompany them, he received no rations or shelter and had to rely on the kindness and goodwill of the soldiers to survive. His faith was very intense, and he was fortunate to escape with his life and with the precious diary he had kept recording his experiences.
Harry was placed under the wing of William, as he was the Quartermaster; several references are made to William’s kindness as well as Pte H.Chinnery. Chinnery was described as their appointed cook, but was also described as “a very careless man.”
The second battalion left Ireland and landed in France. They travelled to the fast-moving front, arriving at the Battle of Mons and the retreat to the Battle of Le Cateau, where the 2nd Suffolks made their stand to halt the German advances, taking massive casualties.
Suffolk Regiment Battalion movements
SUFFOLK REGIMENT MUSEUM
Friends of The Suffolk Regiment
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