Gordon Harold "Gertie" Sawley (28 June 1913 – 14 August 1942) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family The son of Andrew Gilbert Sawley (1883–1964), and Florence Maud Sawley (1883–1964), née Baldock, Gordon Harold Sawley was born at Norwood, South Australia on 28 June 1913.
Siblings His older brother, Frank Sawley, played 26 games with Norwood (1931–1934)..
Frank's son, Brian Sawley, played 138 games with Norwood. Brian Sawley is also remembered for being knocked unconscious by Victorian ruckman John Peck in the third quarter of the interstate match between Victoria and South Australia in Adelaide om 7 July 1963. Peck was found guilty of the offence by the South Australian Tribunal, which left the penalty to be determined by the VFLCarter, R., John Peck Admits Hitting S.A. Half-Forward: 'I was Kicked'", The Age, Monday, 8 July 1963), p.20. – displaying controversial leniency, the VFL only suspended Peck for two weeks.Carter, R., "Tribunal Will Hear Statement by Peck on Incident in S.A.", The Age, (Tuesday, 9 July 1963), p.22.John Peck Treated for Slight Injury to Spine, The Age, (Wednesday, 10 July 1963), p.20.Carter, R. "Two Weeks Suspension for Peck: Fails in Attempt to Change Plea, The Age, (Thursday, 11 July 1963), p.22.
His younger brother, Albert Sawley, played 110 games for Norwood and 11 games for St Kilda.
Football Norwood He played 53 games for Norwood (1937–1941).
South Melbourne He joined the VFL side South Melbourne while on RAAF duties, and played in 7 games in the 1941 season.Gordon Sawley, R.A.A.F., Now Overseas: One of South's Best Players in Recent Seasons, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 22 November 1941), p.1.Gordon Sawley Believed Killed in Action: Flying-Officer Was Popular With Team Mates at South, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 22 August 1942), p.1.
Death He was killed during the Second World War in a training accident whilst serving in the Royal Air Force.Honour Roll Circular.Deaths: Died on Active Service" Sawley, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Wednesday, 14 October 1942), p.8.Heroes of the Empire: Sawley, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Thursday, 14 August 1947), p.16. On 14 August 1942, Sawley, piloting an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, took off from RAF Kinloss on a nighttime cross-country training exercise that would be followed by a bombing practice exercise. After the cross-country exercise operation finished, the Whitley headed back to RAF Kinloss and informed the base by radio that they would proceed on the bombing exercise.
The aircraft was seen over Forres, and proceeded to turn north and then east. The plane then went down from in altitude to in altitude and disappeared from sight. Soon after, Sawley's plane crashed into the North Sea off Findhorn, Scotland, killing the flying officer and the 4 other crew on board. Search parties were dispatched, but only found wreckage. None of the crew's bodies have been found.
He has no known grave, and is commemorated at the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede.Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. World War Two Nominal Roll: Flying Officer Gordon Harold Sawley (407951), Department of Veterans' Affairs. Roll of Honour: Flying Officer Gordon Harold Sawley (407951), Australian War Memorial. Roll of Honour Circular: Flying Officer Gordon Harold Sawley (407951), Australian War Memorial. Casualty Lists: South Australian Names: RAAF List: Believed Killed, Aircraft Accident, The (Adelaide) Chronicle, (Thursday, 3 September 1942), p.24. Casualty Lists: South Australian Names: RAAF List: Presumed Dead, The (Adelaide) Chronicle, (Thursday, 17 December 1942), p.19. Flying Officer Gordon Harold Sawley (407951), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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