Mar 31, 1892
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Born in Millgrove,
Ontario to Edward and Sophia (nee Cummins) Sawell
In
the fall of 1914, Edward Sawell joined the 77th
Wentworth Regiment as a Private and was soon promoted to the rank of
Sergeant.
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Dec 24, 1914
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Commissioned with
the rank of Lieutenant in the 77th Wentworth
Regiment
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Dec 27, 1915
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Signed
Officer’s Declaration into the 129th
Battalion CEF in Dundas, Ontario
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Rank Lieutenant
Ø
Next of kin given
as Edward T. Sawell, father, Waterdown, Ontario
Ø
Previous
occupation given as Merchant
Ø
Previous military
experience given as 77th Regiment
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Religion given as
Methodist
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Aug 17, 1916
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The 129th
Battalion payroll shows that Lieutenant Sawell was Struck Off
Strength of the battalion, however he was retained as a Supernumerary
Officer. According
to his diary, he had been informed orally a few weeks earlier of the
decision
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Aug 23, 1916
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Embarked the SS
Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the 129th
Battalion, but does not appear on their Embarkation Roll as he was
travelling as a Supernumerary Officer.
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Aug 30, 1916
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Disembarked in
Liverpool, England
Transferred
to the General List of Officers.
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Oct 26, 1916
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Transferred to the
21st Battalion
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Oct 27, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On
Strength of the 21st Battalion
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Oct 31, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot, Lieutenant Sawell joined the 21st
Battalion resting in Calonne, France and was posted to
“D” Company
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Dec 25, 1916
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Rejoined the
battalion in the front line west of Lens, France from a course of
instruction
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May 7, 1917
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Proceeded on Lewis
Machine Gun Course in Etaples, France
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May 16, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion in Aux Rietz, France from course
He
was appointed as the Lewis Gun Officer shortly after
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Jul 18, 1917
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Awarded the MC
(Military Cross) per London Gazette #30188 for his action April 9, 1917
during the capture of Vimy Ridge
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Sep 12, 1917
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Granted 10 days
leave
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Sep 23, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion resting in Villers au Bois, France from leave
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Dec 16, 1917
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Appointed to the
rank of Temporary Captain
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Jan 21, 1918
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Granted 14 days
leave
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Feb 5, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion resting in the Hills Camp at Neuville St. Vaast, France from
leave
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Mar 22, 1918
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Proceeded on course
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Mar 27, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion in Basseux, France from course
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May 11, 1918
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Proceeded on
course at the 1st Army School
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Jun 19, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion at the front near Mercatel, France from course of instruction
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Aug 15, 1918
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During an enemy
gas attack on the 21st Battalion north-west of
Fouquescourt, France, Lieutenant Sawell suffered from gas exposure and
was evacuated to a nearby field ambulance for first aid before being
transferred to the No. 47 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
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Aug 17, 1918
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Transferred via
the No. 24 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 8 General
Hospital in Rouen, France
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Aug 20, 1918
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Transferred to the
No. 72 General Hospital in Trouville, France
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Sep 4, 1918
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Transferred to the
Officer’s Convalescent Home in Deauville, near Trouville,
France
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Sep 23, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital care and reported to the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot)
in Etaples, France
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Sep 30, 1918
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in
Aubin St. Vaast, France
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Oct 2, 1918
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp, Lieutenant Sawell MC rejoined the 21st
Battalion in the Hindenburg Support line near Douai, France
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Oct 3, 1918
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While in the
support line, a German artillery barrage hit and Captain Sawell
received a shrapnel wound to his left arm and he was evacuated to a
field ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 30
Casualty Clearing Station
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Oct 7, 1918
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Transferred via
the No. 27 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 20 General Hospital
in Camiers, France
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Oct 9, 1918
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth
On
arrival in England, he was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital in
Marylebone, London
Transferred
to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while
in hospital
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Oct 16, 1918
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Transferred to the
IODE Canadian Red Cross Hospital in London
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Nov 1, 1918
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Transferred to the
Canadian Officer’s Convalescent Hospital, Matlock, Bath
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Nov 6, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital and transferred to the 6th Reserve
Battalion in Seaford
Granted
21 days leave
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Dec 22, 1918
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Arrived at the
base depot in Etaples and Taken On Strength of the 21st
Battalion
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Jan 29, 1919
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He remained at the
base depot until being transferred to England for duty at Argyle House
in London
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Feb 1, 1919
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Attached to
Military District No. 5 Wing in Kinmel Park, Rhyl
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Mar 1, 1919
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Appointed to
position of Adjutant, Military District No. 5 Wing in Kinmel Park, Rhyl
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Apr 16, 1919
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Ceased to be
Adjutant and attached to Military District No. 10 in Kinmel Park
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Apr 19, 1919
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Appointed to the
rank of Acting Major until June 6, 1919 per London Gazette #31429 while
in temporary command of Military District No. 10 Wing in Rhyl
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Jul 1, 1919
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Re-attached to
Military District No. 5 Wing in Kinmel Park
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Jul 5, 1919
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Embarked the SS
Carmania in Liverpool
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Jul 12, 1919
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Disembarked in
Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Hamilton, Ontario where he was
Taken On Strength Military District No. 2
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Jul 16, 1919
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Discharged from
the CEF in Hamilton, Ontario
Ø
Rank on discharge
Captain
Ø
Entitled to War
Service Badge Class “A”
Following
his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to
him at Waterdown, Ontario
On
discharge, he rejoined the 77th Wentworth
Regiment as a Company Commander. Later,
he was appointed as the 2nd in Command of the
regiment.
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Jul 30, 1925
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Married to
Elizabeth Jackson Fleming in Aldershot, Ontario
In
1926 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and took command
of the 77th Wentworth Regiment.
In 1930 he was awarded the VD (Volunteer
Decoration) for his 20 years of service.
He retired to the Reserve List of Officers in
1931.
He volunteered
again during WW2 and served in the Veterans Guard in Waterdown, Ontario
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Apr 9, 1968
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Edward Stanley
Sawell, MC died in Burlington, Ontario and was buried in the Grace
Anglican Church Cemetery, Waterdown, Ontario
Edward Stanley Sawell is remembered on a plaque at the
Waterdown Ontario Memorial Hall
In addition to researching Edward Stanley
Sawell’s service file, the 21st
Battalion’s Part II Orders and War Diary, details have been
drawn from Into
the Cauldron by Seven Sawell and the 21st
Battalion’s history Ordinary Heroes by
Stephen Nichol
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