Sadler, James R 1917.

James Robert Sadler. Died 9 May 1917

James was born in 1895 to father Alfred and mother Ann in Wokingham, Berkshire. He was the second born and had five siblings, four brothers (two did not make adulthood) and a sister, Margaret. By the age of thirteen, James was a Houseboy and his father a carter for the local council. His parents lived at 1 Frederick Place in Wokingham, Berkshire in 1911. However, his parents had moved to 19 Mount Pleasant (at the back of the railway

station) at the time of James’s death.

James joined the Royal Field Artillery, 162nd Siege Battery, which first saw action in France 1916. He had reached the position of Serjeant and therefore may have joined up some time well before 1916. We know the 162nd saw action at Vimy in April 1917, but have not yet found the circumstances that led to his death.

Many thanks for the following information which was supplied by Joy Wedepohl from Vancouver, Canada. Joy is the niece of Sergeant Sadler.

At some time prior to being sent to France in 1916 James’ Regiment was sent to South Africa on board the Union Castle Intermediate Steamer Dunluce Castle. This information was obtained from his sister Margaret, however, no record of this was found at the NRO and the Royal Artillery Library had no records for the RGA for that period either.

The following information was obtained by Geoff Dewing from the War Diary of the 162nd Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery which is kept at the Public Records Office Kew.

“The 162nd Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery arrived in Le Havre, France at 3 a.m. September 5, 1916 on board S. S. Alexandria.
They proceeded by train via Rouen, September 10th;
St. Pol, September 11 to
Bruay, September 12th.”

Extract from copy of the War Diary:
“Thelus – May 8, 1917:
2 a.m., S.O.S. call, (pre arranged point of fire). No. 1 gun out of action. No. 4 gun out of action.
5 a.m. Bombardment of S.O.S. lines.
Battery dug out heavily shelled, 3 dugouts blown in, 7 OR killed by shellfire, 7 OR wounded. (3 of whom died).”

It would appear that James died at Thelus. He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Name: SADLER
Initials: J R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Unit Text: 162nd Siege Battery.
Date of Death: 09/05/1917
Service No: 38705
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 1.
Cemetery: LA TARGETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-ST. VAAST

 

 

1 Frederick Place in 1911
19 Mount Pleasant at the time of his death (probably parents)