Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Percy Myles SAWREY was born on 12 April 1896 at Grigors House, Buderim, Queensland.

Percival enlisted on 18 January 1916 at Brisbane with the 31st Infantry Battalion 8th Reinforcement.

He was described as being 19 years old, single, a labourer of Buderim Mountain, Queensland, 5 feet 7 inches tall, grey eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, scar left hand and right knee, and of the Church of England faith. Percy gave his father, David Sawrey, Buderim Mountain, Queensland, as his next of kin.

FOREST GLEN HALL - Messrs. D. & P. Sawrey, who have enlisted, and are leaving shortly for Enoggera, were presented each with a wristlet watch. Councillor Hobson, on behalf of the residents of Forest Glen, made the presentation and they were fastened on, by the young ladies. Mr. D. Sawrey briefly responded for himself and brother. Three hearty cheers were then given for the lads, and all joined in singing the National Anthem. The hall was then cleared and dancing indulged in. Songs were rendered by several ladies present. Dancing was continued till the early hours. Chronicle, 4 February 1916.

Percy went into camp at Enoggera on 21 February 1916 for training before embarking from Brisbane on 16 August 1916 per HMAT A42 Boorara, for service abroad.

Percy was reported for a crime at sea for “failing to report for ships guard on 20 September 1916” before disembarking at Plymouth, England on 13 October 1916.

Percy completed training in England and then sailed for France. He was attached for duty with 5th Australian Divisional Headquarters on 29 December 1916.

LETTER FROM PERCY - Mr. & Mrs D. Sawrey, of Forest Glen, Palmwoods, are in receipt of a letter from Private Percy Myles Sawrey, the younger of their two sons who are serving with the AIF, in which he states that he had gained a Military Medal for bravery under shell fire about October 1 of last year. Private P. M. Sawrey left Brisbane in August, 1916, with reinforcements for the 31st Battalion. The Brisbane Courier, 14 January 1918. 

Awarded Military Medal (MM) - Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 2 May 1918. Page 1034, position 89.

ACTION FOR WHICH COMMENDED: For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, whilst assisting with motor water lorries in filling water tanks at HOOGE. He continued in this duty from the 25th to the 30th September 1917. At no time did he shrink from the enemy barrage and never ceased work until all tanks were filled. He was with Private Humphries on September 25th and immediately transferred to another lorry on Humphries being evacuated. The supply of water in these tanks was a matter of vital importance to this Division.

Percy rejoined his unit from detachment on 7 April 1918.

He returned to Australia per Port. Lyttleton, on 10 June 1919. During the voyage he suffered from a bout of tonsillitis.

FOREST GLEN SOCIAL EVENING - A social was held in Poole's Hall, Friday evening, 22nd August to welcome home Privates D. and P. Sawrey. The evening was all that could be desired, people coming from Buderim, Mons, Ilkley, and Woombye for the occasion. Mr. A. E. Vise in welcoming the lads, said that they had done their duty to King and Country and that they had assembled the evening, to show their appreciation. Both lads were presented with a fountain pen as a token of good will. During the evening songs were sung by Masters John and Herb, Hill, Mr. G. Deacon, Mr. G. Sawrey, and Mr. B. C. Lucas. Dancing was indulged in till about 11 o'clock, when a halt was made for refreshments to be handed round; after which dancing was resumed till 2 a.m. when everyone went home quite satisfied with the evening’s enjoyment. Music was supplied for the dancing by Messrs. A. Henderson and H. Hooper (accordion), Aird (violin) and Mrs. B. C. Lucan (piano). Mr. H. Baumann acting as M.C. with L. Baumann assisting. Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser, 29 August 1919.

Percy was discharged from the AIF on 21 September 1919.

War Service: Western Front.

Medals
British War Medal.
Victory Medal.
Military Medal.

Where Commemorated

Buderim Mountain Roll of Honour Board, Buderim War Memorial Hall.
Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honour Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour.

Percy served with his brother David Casson Sawrey (3628).

He married Elizabeth Eliza Telcha ‘Bessie’ Kuskopf at Ilkley on 23 April 1921.

On his return from the war Percy secured a job at the Tanawha sawmill.

AMBULANCE CALLED - Percy Myles Sawrey, in the employ of Mr. Lindsay (Buderim), whilst operating a circular saw at the Tanawha sawmill, had the second finger severed on his left hand, and the index and third finger were fractured. First aid was rendered and the patient conveyed to Nambour, for medical attention. Nambour Chronicle, 18 December 1925.

Percy died on 2 August 1969 at Forest Glen, age 73. He is buried in the Military Section of the Woombye Cemetery, Queensland. Elizabeth died in the Nambour General Hospital, Queensland on 18 May 1971.

Children

Norman Richard Sawrey.
Mervyn Arthur Sawrey.
Olive Mary Sawrey.
Dorothy Telcha Sawrey.
Harold George Sawrey.
Francis John Sawrey.

PARENTS - David Casson Sawrey and Mary Eleanor Sawrey of Buderim Mountain, Via Palmwoods.

David Casson Sawrey was born on 5 March 1862 to David Sawrey and Sarah (nee Williamson) at their home at Stephead, Seathwaite in Lancashire, England. We know that David attended school along with his brothers and sisters at Seathwaite School house, which was only down the road from Stephead. His teacher at some stage was a Mr. William Walker, who sent out newspapers to David at Forest Glen in later years.

Mary Eleanor Atkinson was born on 1 June 1860 to Thomas Atkinson and Elizabeth (nee Ashburner) at their home at Stricklandgate, Kendal in Westmoreland, England. She married David Sawrey in 1880 her father Thomas was working as an Ironworks Labourer and living at Sawmill Field in Askam-in-Furness, Lancashire.

In 1876 one of Mary’s brothers John Penny Atkinson who had just been widowed emigrated to Australia on the Strathean, he arrived in Rockhampton on 3 May 1876. He left his daughter Jane with his sister Fanny Woof.

On 19 June 1880 David and Mary were married, at the District Chapelry of Ireleth with Askam in Lancashire, by the Rev. Charles Bell. Witnesses were Thomas Slater and Phoebe Dawson who married another brother Richard in 1881. David appears to have been working at the Askam site quarries around this time, being the main industry around that area. Their first child, a son, John Thomas Sawrey, died from pneumonia. Two more children were born in Askam-in-Furness, Lancashire.

Several more of Mary’s family emigrated out to Australia, the second being her sister Frances, known as Fanny and her husband Robert Woof, who travelled on the Chyebassa with their five children and Jane Atkinson, the daughter of John Penny Atkinson. They landed at Brisbane and selected land at Lindsay Road, Buderim. Two more brothers followed suit, Thomas Ashburner Atkinson and George Atkinson arrived in Brisbane, on board the Quetta on 10 February 1885. They must all have sent back glowing reports as David and Mary decided to emigrate with their two children.

When they left London bound for Australia on 5 April 1887, David was 24 years old, Mary 26 years, George 3 years and Sarah 1 year. They travelled on the steamer Waroonga (one of the 1st) going via the Suez, Batavia through the Torres Strait to Brisbane, arriving on 1 June 1887. They were met by Fanny Woof and stayed in Brisbane a week, before catching the coastal steamer Tarshaw to the Maroochy River. They unloaded into a small punt and rowed up the Eudlo Creek about two miles, where they unloaded their boxes for collection next day. They were transported by sleigh to John Penny Atkinson’s humpy about one mile away, set approximately between Maroochydore, Jones and Pittards Roads.

They spent their first night in the area in Frances and Robert Woof’s humpy on Lindsay Road, Buderim Mountain and lived with them until after Frances Hannah Sawrey was born on 2 October 1887 – Mary having been 5 months pregnant when they arrived in Australia. Afterwards they rented a humpy close to John Penny Atkinsons for 1/- a week.

The selection of Stoneythwaite was all in Percy’s name in later years, so that David Snr. could get the old age pension, but before he died it was divided up between three of the boys. David Jnr. bought 160 acres before World War 1, just beside Stoneythwaite. George ended up with 45 acres, Percy 93 acres and Bill 22 acres. Bananas, pineapples, cane and strawberries were the main crops farmed by all of the men. Altogether David and his wife Mary enjoyed 67½ years of married life. David died first on 5 December 1947 aged 86 years and his widow Mary survived until 1 November 1953 aged 93 years.

Named in their Honour - Sawreys Road at Forest Glen.

MANGO TREE MARKS HOME OF FOREST GLEN PIONEERS -Overlooking the “range” portion on the Forest Glen section of the Bruce Highway on the left-hand side as one travels towards Brisbane is a large mango tree. This is on the property of Mr. and Mrs. D. Sawrey and was planted 51 years ago, by Mrs. Sawrey, who placed a mango seed in a stump. Nearby their first cottage was erected, soon after they came to the country from Lancashire England. Later the house was moved a little farther away from the tree, and there the couple now reside.

At their residence on Friday afternoon last Mr. and Mrs. Sawrey, who were married in Lancashire on the 19th June, 1880, were interviewed by a “Chronicle” representative on the occasion of celebrating their diamond wedding. They are a very pleasant couple and over an afternoon cup of tea, they recounted a number of anecdotes during their 60 years of marital union.

Mrs. Sawrey is one of the homely, motherly women and has given great support and cheer to her husband in the many vicissitudes, which have attended them in the pioneering days of this district. They have however, striven hard against many difficulties which have beset them, and now wish only for days of contentment and peace, after having reared a large family, who may rise up with the words of the Psalmist of old “to call them blessed,” and to thank their parents for having trained them, in “the way they should go.” The period of 60 years is a long time in which they were required to cast their minds back, but both being endowed with their full faculties, were able to recount reminiscences of interest.

Mrs. Sawrey was not expecting visitors that afternoon and mentioned to the unexpected, though nevertheless welcome guest, that she had been cleaning the stove after it had been out of action for a little time. She said her husband was a little distance away somewhere about the farm, although she was expecting him at any moment. Engrossed in conversation the few minutes flew by, the “man of the house” soon made his appearance. After washing his hands and meeting our representative and being informed of the latter’s mission, he said he thought a little information could be made available, but added, “You won’t make it too hot.” On a satisfactory assurance being given, Mr. and Mrs. D. Sawrey then related a few incidents of their life. Touching on the grave turn of events in war, Mrs. Sawrey remarked “It is all too sad; but we only hope and trust that everything will come right in the end.”

Referring to the progress of modern time, Mr. Sawrey said that everything seemed to be moving too quickly and it was largely because of this, and the fact that people generally missed the better things of life, that nations were now involved in these grave international disputes. He said he had never thought when he acquired the present holding over fifty years ago, that one day a main highway would pass through his property. When it had been intimated to him by a friend, so many years ago he laughed and scorned at it. “But here it is, an accomplished fact,” he said, “and I sit out yonder and view the enormous amount of traffic that proceeds to and fro. Some of the traffic speeds along the road as if the owners haven’t a moment to spare, and how some of them escape an accident is nothing short of a miracle! Some of these days there will be a big ‘pile up’ unless some of them observe more care.” Mr. Sawrey said it was always nice up on the hill and in weather such as prevailed, they could always obtain splendid views of the surrounding country. Mr. and Mrs. Sawrey departed from Gravesend in the sailing ship Waroonga on the 14th April, 1887, they brought two children with them to Australia. One child they left in the churchyard in Lancashire. Soon after arriving in the colony they came to Maroochydore, by the small steamer Normanby, they were conveyed by lighter craft to the mouth of Eudlo Creek. About this locality they made a temporary home. Not long after Mr. Sawrey commenced work amongst timber he severely cut his leg, and he was required to seek medical and hospital attention. He told how it was necessary to move him to Brisbane, and this journey occupied two days by dray transport. The accident involved him being on his back for seven weeks and an even longer period away from his home. During the time he was at Eudlo Creek, he worked about the locality and in the Buderim district for property holders, among whom were Messrs Atkinson, H. O. Burnett, and John Caton. The latter at that time was a member of the old Caboolture Divisional Board. He also continued to work for these selectors after he selected the present property at Forest Glen 51 years ago, but at that time the area was regarded as part of the Buderim district. The original holding was 160 acres, but it is now a little less. His sons occupy various portions of the property, and Mr. Percy Sawrey works it. He grew various kinds of fruits, but while he now (to use his own words) “just potters around” all the avenues of active industry, his sons carry on and emulate the father’s pioneering courage and land-mindedness.

Among other fruits, Mr Sawrey, said he cultivated pineapples in the early days, and remembers sending the fruit away to Brisbane and receiving 2/-3p per case. He said he had not taken an active part in public affairs, his interest being mainly as a member of the school committee. After his day’s work he was always too tired to go out much at night, and besides, there were always family responsibilities in which he was required to share.
When leaving the home and expressing thanks to our host and hostess for their hospitality, Mr. Sawrey, while walking down to his gate, pointed to the mango tree, and said that Mrs. Sawrey planted it soon after their arrival on the selection. A seed was planted in a stump, but the stump has since rotted away. Observing the act on the part of Mrs. Sawrey, a Scotsman, who lived about the locality, maintained that no tree would grow from a seed planted like that. Mr. Sawrey pointed to a home-made seat under the tree, and remarked, “I can tell you that sitting under this tree in the very hot days of summer is a real treat, and I’m not lonely sitting there for I have a splendid view of the traffic both ways from this observation post.”
The Nambour Chronicle, 28 June 1940.

Battles Fought
Western Front
Victory Medal
SAWREY Percival Myles
British War Medal
SAWREY Percival Myles
Military Medal
SAWREY Percival Myles Sawrey.