SASSE, Cecil Duncan
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | 28 September 1886, place not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Clifton House School, Royal Military College Sandhurst |
| Occupation: | Woolbroker |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Officer, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Lieutenant, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney |
Help us honour Cecil Duncan Sasse's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
MAJOR CECIL DUNCAN SASSE, D.S.O., OF SYDNEY.
He is only 23 years of age, a son of Mr. Frederick Sasse, of South Kensington, London, and has been a soldier all his life. He went through the Sandhurst Military College, and then joined the East Yorkshire Regiment. Playing in an army football match he hurt his knee so badly that it was thought he would be unfit for hard marchingmand so ho resigned and came to Sydney, entering into the service of Molloy and Co., wool merchants, George-st, with which firm his cousin is associated, on the outbreak of war he offered his services, and was accepted, being attached to the 1st Battalion with the rank of lieutenant. He was soon promoted to a captaincy. Before leaving Egypt his old injury gave him trouble again. He was operated on by Dr. Fred. Bird, and subsequently was able to resume his duties. He was promoted to the rank after the engagement at Lone Pine, in which, though three times wounded, he remained In the firing line.
Distinguished Service Order
'For conspicuous gallantry and determination durring the attack on Lone Pine, Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 6th-7th August, 1915, when he led several bayonet charges on trenches occupied by the enemy, resulting in substantial gains. Captain Sasse was wounded three times, but remained on duty.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 12
Date: 27 January 1916
DSO and Bar
'For conspicuous gallantry in the attack on Chuignolles and Chuignes on 23rd August, 1918. In face of exceedingly heavy fire he brought his battalion through to the final objective with extraordinarily few casualties, and succeeded in capturing several hundred prisoners, and some field guns. He then advanced an additional mile, captured Fontaine les Cappy, and skilfully protected his new position. The brilliant success of his battalion was due to his splendid leadership.
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 67
Date: 3 June 1919
Discharged in England
Click images to start slideshow.