COVENT GARDEN - LONDON
Theatre Royal
Major Richard SAKER
Born: 8-11-1877, Liverpool, England Enlisted: 26-8-1914 5th Battalion Australian Infantry Killed in Action: 25-4-1915, Gallipoli, aged 37years Resting: Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey Son of Edward and Marie Saker Husband of W. Saker, of 11, Osterley Avenue, Osterley Park, Middx., England. Honoured Australian War Memorial Panel 45 |
CAPTAIN RICHARD SAKER,
4th BATTALION (Extra Reserve) THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS, MAJOR 5th BATTALION AUSTRALION INFANTRY Born on the 8th October, 1877, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Saker, of Liverpool. Major Saker, who received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion Connaught Rangers in October, 1901, had served in the South African War 1900-1902 with the Rough Riders, being present at operations in Cape Colony, the Transvaal, including the action near Diamond Hill, and East of Pretoria. He also took part in operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, including the actions at Zilikats Nek and Elands River: for his services he received the Queen's Medal with five clasps. In February 1907, he became Captain in the Reserve of Officers, and when the Great War broke out he was called up for service and was attached as Major to the 5th Battalion Australian Infantry with the rank of Major. He took part in the landing operations on Gallipoli Peninsula, being wounded once during the landing and twice afterwards, but continued his duties until shot in the head near "Quinns Post" on the 26th April 1915. Major Saker left a widow, Mrs. Winnie Saker, of Cookham Dean, Berkshire, and one son aged six years. He was a member of the Junior Naval and Military Club. |
Group portrait of officers of the 5th Battalion in front of the Sphinx at the foot of the Pyramids. Identified from left to right, back row (standing) Lieutenant (Lt) Alexander Rossiter Caughey, B Company (Coy); Lt William Douglas Stewart Manger, B Coy (later died of wounds in London on 21 July 1915); Captain (Capt) Daniel Aston Luxton, B Coy; Lt Arthur John Phillips, B Coy; Lt Stanley Gladstone Gilmour, A Coy; Capt Alexander Earl Greig, C Coy. Third row (standing) Capt Robert Pearce Flockart, B Coy (later died of wounds at Gallipoli 15 July 1915); Lt Donald Stuart Bain, Transport Officer; Captain William Charles Chassar, Quartermaster; Lt Cyril McEachern Lillie, D Coy; Lt Percy James Alexander Murray, D Coy; Lt Benjamin Douglas Jack, D Coy (killed in action in France 9 April 1918); Lt James Wallace Ross, A Coy; Lt Thomas Hastie, C Coy; Lt George Herbert Capes, C Coy; Lt Robert Murdoch Finlayson Hooper, A Coy (killed in action at Gallipoli 10 August 1915). Second row (standing) Lt Edward Toynbee Stevens, Machine Gun Section, (later killed in action at Passchendaele, Belgium, 11 October 1917); Capt John Walstab, D Coy. Second row (sitting) Capt Richard Saker, C Coy (killed in action at Gallipoli 25/26 April 1915); Capt Erle Finlayson Denton Fethers, C Coy (killed in action at Gallipoli 25-30 April 1915); Major Frank William LeMaistre (second in command); Capt James Campbell Stewart (Adjutant). Front row (sitting) Lt Alfred Plumley Derham, C Coy; Chaplain Walter Ernest Dexter, C Coy; Capt Sydney Reynold Clement A Coy (later killed in action at Gallipoli 26 April 1915); Lt Edward Tronson McVea, A Coy; Lt (Signalling Officer) Howard Thomas Elder, Headquarters Signals (died of wounds at Gallipoli 9 May 1915); Lt Finlay Campbell Uthered Knox Champ, C Coy.