Francis Treweek SAWLE

Francis Treweek SAWLE Update Details

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SAWLE, Francis Treweek

Service Number:	6135
Enlisted:	8 June 1916
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	17th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Cardiff, South Wales, date not yet discovered
Home Town:	Granville, Parramatta, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Wagon Builder
Died:	16 March 1939, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery, Wales, United Kingdom W, 395
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

8 Jun 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6135, 17th Infantry Battalion
25 Oct 1916:	Involvement Private, 6135, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
28 Sep 1917:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 17th Infantry Battalion, Gassed. Developed chronic bronchitis which eventually lead to return to Australia and discharge.
14 Aug 1918:	Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 17th Infantry Battalion

My great uncle Francis Sawle

As a small boy, around 1960, I would visit the home of my great uncles in the Roath area of Cardiff, South Wales, UK. I often noticed a small framed print there, the "Honourable Discharge Certificate" of Francis Treweek Sawle. When I asked about it I was told that he eventually met an early death because he had suffered in a First World War gas attack. I never met him, but was told that he had emigrated to Australia and joined the army to serve in the war. My aunts told me that soldiers in trenches near him had not been able to pass on a warning and that he had not time to don a gas mask. I do not know if he died in the UK or Australia but I have an old photograph (which I will try to upload) of his house in Australia. I also treasure a silver plated teapot with the following inscription: "Pres. to F. SAWLE by his Shopmates - CE Coy - On the eve of his departure for the front. 7:10:16".

Francis was a wagon builder by trade, as were my other great uncles and I suppose that CE Coy refers to an Australian wagon building company. It is very touching to think that his friends made such a gesture.

On an historical note - the surname Sawle is Cornish, as is Treweek. Francis' grandfather, Captain Stephen Sawle had married Jane Treweek in Cornwall. They moved to Cardiff when it was developing as a major UK port city.

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