Lance-Corporal John William Sayer VC

On 21st March 1918 at Le Verguier in France, Lance-Corporal Sayer and his section held the flank of a small isolated post for two hours. Owing to mist the enemy approached from both sides to within 30 yards before being discovered, but Sayer, on his own initiative, without assistance, beat off a succession of attacks, inflicting heavy losses. During the whole time he was exposed to heavy fire, but his contempt for danger and skill in the use of fire-arms enabled the post to hold out until nearly all his men had been killed and he himself wounded and captured. He died as a result of wounds 4 weeks later on 18th April.
John Sayer was from Ilford in Essex, born on 12th April 1879. He was in the 8th Battalion Queen's Royal West Surreys. His award of the VC was announced posthumously in the London Gazette on 9th June 1919. He was buried in Le Cateau Military Cemetery.

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