Frederick Harold SAHR
Personal
Born: September, 1897
Birthplace: Maryborough, Victoria
Parents: Frederick Sahr
Elizabeth Sahr
Died: 18 July, 1917
Cause: Killed In Action
Place of death: Messines, Belgium
Burial place: Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Plot II, Row C, Grave No. 21, Neuve-Eglise, Belgium
Awards and Honours
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
- 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque
Battalions
7th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
Events
Enlistment
Regimental Service Number: 6087
Enlistment date: 12 April, 1916 Melbourne
Age at enlistment: 18 years 8 months
Address at enlistment: Talbot Road, Maryborough, Victoria
Religion: Church of England
Marital Status: Single
Next of kin: Father: Frederick Sahr, Melton, Victoria, then Station Street, Romsey, Victoria.
Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 8 inches
Weight: 121 pounds
Complexion: Medium
Eyes: blue
Hair: brown
Distinctive marks: Scars on R. thigh, L. knee. Moles: 1 under R. breast, 2 on L. cheek.
Embarkation ship: HMAT A32 Themistocles.
Rank: Corporal
War Service Summary
28/07/1916 - Embarked from Melbourne
11/09/1916 - Disembarked at Plymouth for training
22/11/1916 - Proceeded Oversseas to France
08/06/1917 - Appointed to Lance Corporal while in the Field
18/07/1917 - Killed in Action- Messines, Belgium
War Service Commemerated
Killed in action.
Date: 18 July, 1917
Killed in Action at Messines, Belgium
Buried: Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Plot II, Row C, Grave No. 21, Neuve-Eglise, Belgium, 2½ miles W.S.W. of Messines
Red Cross Report:
Sgt. W. Healey from Melton 04/01/1918 stated: "I beg to inform you that he was killed on 18.7.17 about 2.30p.m. while sleeping in his dugout which was situated on Messines Ridge. Cpl. Sahr was a boy of particularly bright disposition. His parents are well known to me at Melton, Vic."
Sgt. J.J. Davidson, 727, stated: "He was killed in his Dugout in the trench at Messines, about July 16th. He was killed outright. I saw the body 2 or 3 minutes after he was killed. It was very dark, and I could not see how he had been killed. The stretcher bearers took him not more than an hour afterwards, and buried him behind the line."
Pte. G. F. Haynes, 6028, stated: "Casulty was in his dug-out support lines Messines. He left his dug-out with myself and was looking for cover when an H. E. shell exploded in the trench killing Casulty instantly and wounding myself. I spoke to him directly after but he was quite dead. His chief wounds were about the body."
1 Package ex Barambah containing: disc, metal watch (damaged) and lanyard, pocket book, metal cigatette case, wallet, cards, photos, letter.
Additional Information
Ex student of Maryborough State School
The Bacchus Marsh Express
Saturday 18 August 1917, P 2
And
Melton Express
Saturday 18 August 1917, P 2
An impressive Memorial Service was held last Sunday morning in Christ Church, Melton, to commemorate three local soldiers recently killed in Action - Corporal A. Martin, Corporal F. Sahr, and Private R. Pratt. The Vicar (Rev. F. Stanley Love) preached to a large congregation, from Hebrews 12, verse 1, and drew a lesson from St. Paul's conception of the athletes in the ancient games, encouraging their comrades engaged in conflict. The heroes who have given their lives in the arena of this world contest look on from the vantage ground of a clearer vision, and a fuller knowledge, and the thought of their interest, although absent, should encourage those who are left in the struggle. At the close of the service, the congregation stood in silence, whilst the Dead March was played.
Sources
Service Record
Red Cross Records
Newspaper accounts