Photo Gallery
Stuart Houston SAWERS
| Rank | Reg/Ser No | DOB | Enlisted | Discharge/Death | Board |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pte | 15742 | 23y4m | 3 Jan 1916 | 19 Sep 1919 | 1 |
Private Stuart Houston Sawers (1887 - 1964)
Stuart Houston Sawers was born in Queensland in 1887.
The Sawers family
Thomas Sawers was born about 1853 in Barrhead, Renfrewshire in Scotland and Stuart Houston about 1852 in Glasgow. They were married in Dennistoun, Glasgow on 4 June 1875. They lived at Hutchesontown, Glasgow
Three children were born in Glasgow: John in 1876, Thomas in 1878, Agnes Bell in 1880; and Alexander Stuart in 1884 and Stuart Houston in 1887 in Queensland.
The family of Thomas, Stuart and their three children John (7), Thomas (5) and Agnes (2) arrived in Brisbane on 3 October 1883 on the 1210 ton Southesk with around 390 others after a voyage of three and a half months.
Alexander and Stuart both enlisted in the Great War.
Their parents were on the Saint Andrew's Communion Rolls for 1905, 1908, 1912, 1921 and 1923. The rolls are not available for later years. Stuart Houston was on the rolls for 1921 and 1923.
Stuart's Enlistment and service
When he enlisted on 3 January 1916 Stuart’s occupation was given as warehouseman, he was 158cm tall and weighed 54kg. He had a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. As his brother had done before him he gave as next of kin his mother living at the time in Wilson Street, Paddington, and his religious denomination Presbyterian. On his Attestation papers, the item about pay to wife and children was deleted as he was at that time unmarried.
Stuart was promoted to provisional corporal from 1 August 1916. He embarked on the Marathon on 27 October 1916 as part of the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) Reinforcements to which he was attached from August 1916 to November 1918.
He disembarked at Plymouth 10 weeks later and marched in to AAMC training depot at Parkhurst in Shipton Bellinger on 10 January 1917 when he reverted to Private. During this time he was admitted to Delhi Hospital with bronchitis from 21 February to 19 March 1917, but on 16 June sailed to France from Folkestone.
In France Stuart was with the 7th Field Ambulance from 16 August 1917 to 2 February 1918. On 3 February 1918 he was transferred to the 26th Battalion until 5 November 1918, and then moved back to the 7th Field Ambulance the following day. On 1 October he had again been admitted to hospital the cause being lumbar pain, but on 6 October he rejoined his Unit. He spent the time 9 March to 23 March on leave in England. On 12 June 1919 he returned to Australia by the Thermistocles, again being admitted to hospital with pain in the lumbar region
Stuart was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Post war
On his return to Australia, he lived with his parents at their home, Stuart-lea in Wilson Street, Paddington and was a warehouseman.
He married Florence Grace Hyde on 21 August 1920. They lived in 4th Avenue, Kedron and Stuart worked as a salesman.
Stuart died on 24 June 1964, and Florence in 1973. Extensive research has failed to reveal information of their post-war lives and families or where their graves are located.
Compiled by Bob Warrick, Brisbane, November 2016 ©
SLQ Historypin – Linking our digital stories to the world.
The Lives, Links and Legacy Stories are being shared through the State Library of Queenland's QANZAC 100: Memories for a New Generation Historypin Hub. Visit this site:
Know anything about this person or want to contribute more information?
Please contact Miriam at staheritage@gmail.com
