Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. F. Sawyer, 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, who was killed in action at the Battle of St. Quentin on 21 March 1918

1914 Star (10544 Pte. J. Sawyer. 2/ Durh. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (10544 Pte. J. Sawyer. Durh. L.I.) nearly very fine (3) £120-£160

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Recipients of the 1914 Star.

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John Frederick Sawyer was born in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire in 1886 and attested for the Durham Light Infantry at Sunderland in October 1908. He served with “D” Company in the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 8 September 1914 and was reported missing in action on 21 March 1918, the first day of ‘Operation Michael’ the German Spring Offensive, and was later confirmed dead. On the latter date, at the Battle of St. Quentin, the battalion was positioned north of the Bapaume-Cambrai Road. Having lost its two forward companies, it withdrew in the evening with what remained of the 1st West Yorkshires and at dusk the following day could only count 2 officers and 58 other ranks unwounded from an original strength of 30 officers and 639 men.

Sawyer has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.