Fleck Family Genealogical Database

Second Lieutenant Robert Bramwell served in World War 1 with the Royal
Fuseliers. He died in action on February 19th, 1917, age 30. He is
buried in the Varennes Military Cemetery, Somme, France. A memorial
appeared in the 28th July, 1917 issue of The Chatham News. He had been
the Minister of Hernehill Congregational Church.

MEMORIAL
The Honoured Dead
The Late Rev. Robert Bramwell Sayer.
Tributes at the unveiling of the memorial tablet.

Long will be cherished by the members and congregation of Ebenezer
Congregational Church, Chatham, The memory of the Rev. Robert Bramwell
Sayer, son of Mr. R.W. Sayer and Mrs. Sayer of "The Tors",
Maidstone-road, Chatham who relinquished his ministerial work at Herne
Hill Congregational Church to serve his country in the Royal
Fusiliers, and was killed in action in France in February last. The
gallant young officer's memory is perpetuated bya tablet placed in the
Jubilee Hall at the Church. The tablet is of brass upon a foundation
of oak and the impressive ceremony of unveiling took place at a
service on Wednesday afternoon in the prescence of many sympathetic
friends of the family. The Rev. J. Edgar Williams, the retiring Pastor
of the Church, conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. Joshua
Allardyce, of Herne Hill, the Rev. H.F.Gower, C.F., and the Rev. T.
Percy Phillips of the Congregational Church, Sittingbourne. Among the
gathering were Mr. R.W. Sayer, Mrs. Sayer, Miss Sayer, The Rev. G.
Anderson Miller, Major R.L. Long, and Mr. W.J. Gibson. An appropriate
and sympathetic address was delivered by the Rev. J.Allardyce who
commenced by saying that he could not possibly refuse the request made
to him to be present, thoughhe still felt that he was asked to perform
duty that he could not adequately fulfill. It was simply and solely
because he loved his friend, Bob Sayer, that he could not refuse the
invitation. They were fellow students together, they were associated
together at the shrine of learning, and they often conversed together
during their college days. They had this in common - they both
possessed a love of healthy sport, and on many occasions on the
football field and in the tennis court, they played for the honour of
their beloved alma mater; and then latterly they fought side by side
in the same parish in London - fought as soldiers of Christ, seeking
to extend their Master's Kingdom, and to serve Christ Who had served
them so well. For these and other reasons he need not mention, he was
glad to be there to offer his humble tribute to their honoured dead.

Proceeding to perform the unveiling ceremony, Mr. Williams added, "I
count it one of the deepest privileges of my ministry in Chatham to
unveil this memorial tablet to my dear friend Bob Sayer". The tablet
is upon the north-east wall of the Hall, and the inscription is
follows: IN MEMORIAM - Rev. Robert Bramwell Sayer, Minister of Herne
Hill Congregational Church, late Lieut. Royal Fuseliers. He was a
scholar in the Sunday School, worker in C.E., member of this Church,
Minister of the Gospel both in South Africa and in this country.
Killed in action, France, February 19th, 1917, aged 30 years. "Greater
love hath no man than this - that a man lay down his life for his
friends."