CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'In loving memory of dear Jack. Jenny'
John's personal possessions were returned to Sarah Jane Pegg in October 1915. They comprised: bible, 1 tobacco pouch, Army Form D426, 1 razor, 1 pocket book containing letters & photos and 1 mirror (broken).
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Sarah Jane Pegg was his sole legatee
WW1 Pension Ledgers: John Savage unmarried, Sarah Jane Pegg wife
DCM citation: 'For conspicuous gallantry on 13 May 1915, and on many previous occasions, he voluntarily went down a mine which was full of gas, several times, and rescued men suffering from gas poisoning. Finally he was himself overpowered by fumes and lost his life.'
Mansfield Reporter, 23 June 1915: ‘He deserved the VC. How a Woodhouse Private Died. The name of Private J Savage (8585) 2nd Sherwood Foresters, is on the list of those who have given their life for their country. He resided at 13, Fletcher-street, Mansfield Woodhouse, where he leaves a widow and four children. The Rev MM Vischer, army chaplain, has written the widow stating that Private Savage was killed in action on May 16th while trying to rescue a comrade. Some time ago Private G Simpson, writing to his parents in Carter-lane, described how the Germans blew up some trenches by mining, and how Jack Savage volunteered to fetch the man out of the ‘afterdamp.’ He got two of them out, when, in trying to rescue a third, he was overcome. If ever a man deserved the VC, Savage did, says Simpson.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Mansfield Reporter, 13 August 1915: ‘Notes and Comments. ‘He deserved the VC’ That was the heading we gave to a paragraph in our issue of June 25th. It was over a brief account of a gallant action by a Mansfield Woodhouse man that cost him his life. Private Jack Savage of the 2nd Sherwood Foresters, on the 16th of May, attempted to rescue three comrades out of a gassed trench broken by the German shells. It was an exceedingly risky thing to attempt, but Savage undertook it. Entering the ‘afterdamp’; as one who witnessed the feat, described it, he actually succeeded in getting out two men alive. Not satisfied with that, he again entered the poisoned atmosphere in the hope of saving the life of the third, but he was overcome by the fumes, and sacrificed his own life. He was a married man, and leaves a widow and four children. This makes the sixth man honoured from this district, one, Corporal Fuller, being a VC here.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Mansfield Reporter, 13 August 1915:
‘Mansfield Woodhouse Man’s Bravery. Posthumous DCM Award. Gave His Life For His Comrades.
'One of the bravest acts that has come to our notice during the progress of the terrible conflict in which we are engaged is that performed by Private J Savage who resided at 13, Fletcher-street, Mansfield Woodhouse. At the time we heard of his bravery, which cost him his life, we wrote that such self-sacrifice - for he gave his life to save his comrades – deserved the highest honours that could be given. Private G Simpson, of Carter-lane, Mansfield, in a letter to his parents, commented upon Savage’s death. He described how the Germans blew up some trenches by mining, and said Jack Savage volunteered to fetch the men out of the afterdamp. He got to of them out, but in trying to rescue a third he was overcome and lost his life. The deceased man leaves a widow and four children. Mrs Savage received a letter from the Rev. MM Vischer, army chaplain, stating that her husband died in action May 16th whilst trying to rescue a comrade.
'A Brave Sherwood. From these brief details it will be gathered that Savage, like the brave Sherwood Forester that he was, though only of rescuing the unfortunate men who were in the trench smashed by German shells. The memory of his wife and four little ones did not prevent him doing his duty – the duty of a brave British soldier. If ever a man gave his life for a comrade Savage did, and the only way the Powers that be could show their appreciation of his gallantry was by a posthumous decoration. In all probability he would not only have earned, but received the DCM, after having rescued two men from the poisonous gas fumes, which were slowly, but surely, suffocating them, but knowing there was a third man in the trench he again came forward in the hope of bringing him to safety, but unfortunately, as already stated, he was overcome by the fumes and perished before assistance could be given. It is a simple story of the gallantry of a true soldier. Its brevity rather adds to than detracts from its merit.
'Sympathy To Widow And Children. Whilst Woodhouse people will naturally extend the most sincere sympathy to the widow and the children who mourn the loss of a husband and father, they will feel that the qualities exhibited by Savage on the battlefield have brought this parish into prominence, has added one more name to the list of fame, and set an example to other local lads to follow. A special supplement to the ‘London Gazette; issued on Thursday night of last week, contained a list of 406 awards of the Distinguished Conduct Medal and six awards of a clasp to the medal to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, the Dardanelles, and Turkey-in-Asia. It was in this list that the name of Private Savage appeared.’
(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)