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S/314040 322nd Depot Unit, Army Service Corps
George Sage was born around 1893 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, one of four children of Frederick and Ellen Sophia Sage. His father was a hairdresser and the family lived in Clare before moving to 53 Station Road in Sudbury.
Prior to enlisting, George was employed as a confectioner’s assistant. The National Service Act came into being in 1915 and George enlisted in Paddington and was put on the reserve. However, he had moved from the address he had given at the time when he was called to the Colours and he was reported as absent to the police. George was living at 102 Lymington Avenue in Leigh-on-Sea and was employed as a pastry cook for James & Sons, Bakers and confectioners when the Chief Constable in Southend interviewed him and he stated that he had had no notice to join up and was awaiting one.
His service record describes him as 5ft 3¾ ins in height, good physical appearance with a 32 inch chest. He joined the East Africa Expeditionary Force on 29 April 1917.
George was admitted to hospital on 1 January 1918 with malaria; he was discharged in April but re-admitted again the same month.
George died on 8 May 1918 aged 25 from malaria and cellulitis of the arm and lies buried in Dar Es Salaam (Upanga Road) Cemetery in Tanzania. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Many people are unaware that fighting took place in what was formerly German East Africa, now Tanzania, where many deaths were the result of disease. The Germans finally surrendered here on 23 November 1918, twelve days after the Armistice was declared.
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