31436, Private, Stephen SADLER
Aged 41
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Born in Borley, Suffolk, in Q3-1878 [Sudbury 4a:531] to Willam D.and Diana SADLER (née HALE) of Borley Green Cottages, Borley,
Suffolk.
1881 census...Stephen [2] was at Borley Green Cottages with his father William [34], a shepherd born Somerton; his mother Dinna [33] born Shimpling; his brothers David [12] born Boxted; George [10] born Melford, and Thomas [ 7 months] born Borley, and his sisters Emma [7] and Ellen [5] both born in Brettenham. 1891 census...Stephen [13] was at Lower Jennies Farm, Bures Hamlet with his parents; brothers George; Thomas and new siblings, John [5] and Clara [2] both born in Bures Hamlet. 1901 census...Stephen [22] was a carriers labourer, boarding in Angle Street, Hadleigh with Harry and Mary Hammond. His parents and some siblings were still in Bures at Gazeley Gates. In Newmarket,in Q1-1908 he married Annie Rose BALLARD. 1911 census...Stephen [31] was at 52 Stanley Road, Newmarket with his wife Annie R [26] born Paddington, London and daughters Lucy [5] and Daisy [2] both born in Newmarket. His parents had moved to Assington, none of the children were there, 2 had died. In the census there is confusion over Borley, Suffolk, or Borley, Essex, as the village almost sits across the county boundary, like Newmarket. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. On the 1st April 1917 the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers (2nd Salford Pals) were involved in the Action of April Fool’s Day at Savy Wood.
The Battalion was assembled at a shallow valley at Chateau Pommery, three miles to the west of Savy, they advanced at 1:00pm in full view of the Germans who were
installed on the high ground south of Holnon, their objective was to take Savy Wood and to establish a strong point on the far side in the vicinity of the
St Quentin-Peronne railway. As the men got under way the gale which was blowing lashed them with rain, sleet and snow. Within minutes, as they crested the rise beyond Pommery Chateau the whole Brigade came under shrapnel fire, this fire continued as they marched down towards Savy village. As they moved forward, behind a creeping barrage, there were a number of casualties from machine gun fire from the direction of Holnon Wood. As they approached Savy Wood another gun opened fire from the railway halt just beyond the gap between the two woods, they then made their way into the southern end of the wood at 3:30pm. It was found to be empty, inside the enemy had left obstacles which slowed the progress of the Battalion. By 4:00pm the Battalion had fought their way round and through Savy Wood. During the next three hours the men began to consolidate their advance. The casualties were 26 men killed in action, including 1 officer. Stephen and 2 pals are buried in La Foreste, which suggests they were killed very early in the assault, most of the others are in Savy British Cemtery, 6 miles away |
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