Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of James Whitley SAYER and "Jennie" Jane Elizabeth Marshall nee BALL of 88 Fairview Avenue, Newtown, Vic.

2nd Lieutenant (2 Lt) William Thomas Sayer, 180th Field Company Royal Engineers, British Army. 2 Lt Sayer was born and raised in Geelong, Victoria, and was a mine manager in Queensland before travelling to the United States of America in 1912 to further his mining experience. Sayer enllisted with a British Army cavalry unit in 1914, and was posted to the 180th Field Company, 4 Corps, Royal Engineers. 2 Lt Sayer was killed in action on 5 June 1916, while preparing to set mines close to German workings at Vermilles. He was 27 years old.

Lieutenant William Thomas Sayer, who was killed in  action on June 6, was the second son of the late Mr. J.  W. Sayer and Mrs. Sayer, of Newtown, Geelong. Lieutenant Sayer was 27 years of age, was educated at  the Geelong Grammar School, and took up mining  engineering and metallurgy at the Ballarat School of Mines, and practised his profession in Queensland and  New South Wales and the United States.

William’s sister, Lillias Elizabeth Sayers was the fiancé of James Hamilton Calder who died whilst a PoW in France on 22 April 1917.  James Hamilton Calder is also recognised on the All Saints Newtown Honorar Board