Sapper Harold William "Theodore" Sawler was born September 21st, 1900 to Rufus James and Margaret (nee Faulkenham) Sawler.  The family moved from Riverport to Brookfield Mines in 1910.  Theodore (as he was known) had an older sister Effie Anne, and five younger siblings, Arthur “Douglas”, Jennie, Genevieve, Mabel, and Avis.  The family was Lutheran and operated a small farm.

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      Sapper Sawler was an active member of the Militia, specifically the Royal Canadian Engineers, and his Regimental number was 1213.  Although not a rank, “Sapper” refers to a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties.  Sapper Sawler wore the rank of Private.

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      The Canadian Archives has no enlistment record or war record for Sapper Sawler (even searched under Sawlor). 

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      On April 14th, 1918 Sapper Sawler perished of pneumonia (presumably the Spanish Flu).  He was being cared for in Bellevue House, Halifax which was built in 1801 as a Georgian mansion.  In 1917 it became a temporary hospital to care for those injured in the Halifax Explosion and then carried on as a place to care for injured and sick military personnel.  His remains were brought back to Caledonia by train on April 17th, along with those of Private Leslie Hebb, who had also died of pneumonia.  Because Sapper Sawler was an active member in the Canadian Engineers Militia when he perished, the Militia Unit recorded his death. 

 

      At 17 years and eight months old, Sapper Sawler was the youngest soldier from North Queens to perish in any of the wars of the twentieth century.  Sapper Sawler is interred at the Pleasant River (Lakeview) Cemetery, with a Military Memorial headstone.  He is also remembered on the Honour Roll of congregation members of the North Brookfield United Baptist Church who served “In the Great War”

     

      Sapper Harold William Theodore Sawler is commemorated on page 497 of the World War One Book of Remembrance.  He is also listed on the Caledonia Cenotaph.

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NO SIGNATURE DUE TO LACK OF RECORDS

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Note that Sapper Sawler is listed as Private Sawlor (misspelled) on the Caledonia Cenotaph.  When the Canadian Engineers recorded his death, they used the rank of Sapper, and it is recorded as such on his headstone and in the World War One Book of Remembrance.  Both designations are correct usage.

             

Online References

War Grave Search – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2755423/theodore-w-sawler/

Local Grave Search - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192269444/theodore-w-sawler

Canadian Virtual War Memorial - https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2755423?Theodore%20Sawler

Canadian Census (1921) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=census&IdNumber=68038655&ecopy=e002913475

First World War Personnel Records Database (file download size 3.88 Meg) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=pffww&IdNumber=630255