Private Richard Saxon, 8th Battalion AIF

Private Richard Saxon, 3915, 8th Battalion AIF

Son of Margaret Saxon, 36 St Johns Street, East Brunswick. His father had died by the time he had enlisted.

He was 5’ 10” tall, weighed 12 stone and had brown eyes and black hair.

27th May 1915 He enlisted at East Brunswick, Victoria aged 43 years and 6 months. His occupation is given as a miner.

4th November 1915 he joined the 12th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion.
29th March 1916 he left Alexandria on the ‘Trannsylvania” for Europe.
4th April 1916 he arrived in Marseilles.
25th June 1916 he joined the entrenching Battalion at Etaples.
14th July 1916 he joined the 8th Battalion.

18 August 1916 Killed in action aged 44.


The Red Cross reports into his death:

“I knew Saxon who was in my platoon. I was told by Corporal de Weir, D Company, 14th Platoon , that he was in charge of a bombing party of whom Saxon was one near Contalmaison about 18th August 1918. He said he had seen Saxon killed and that his body was left. It was at night.” Pte. B.H. Beaton, 1742, 8th Battalion.

He is buried in Pozieres British Cemetery Ovillers-La-Boisselle

Source : National Archives of Australia