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The Channel Islands and the Great War
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Vautier, J R



City of London Cemetery & Crematorium

City of London Cemetery & Crematorium, Manor Park, Essex
On the southern edge of Epping Forest

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Friday 18 August 1916

Progressing Favourably. We are pleased to learn that Riflman Vautier, who was recently wounded and remained five days on the battlefield before being picked up, is now in hospital in the south of England and is progressing favourably.


NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Wednesday 30 August 1916

A Soldiers Terrible Experiences - How Pluck Pulled Him Through. A short time ago Mr Tom Vautier, formerly a well known schoolmaster in the Island and now living in London, was notified that his son, Sergeant J Vautier, one of three in the services, was missing. On 21st a notification was received that he was in hospital at Cosham and Mr Vautier was able to visit him there. "When I saw him," says Mr Vautier in a letter to his brother Mr John Vautier of Trinity Road, "they were just dressing him and when the screen was removed I would not have known him with his matted hair and whiskers. He is wounded in the right shoulder, his right lung is perforated and he has wounds in the thigh, leg and foot. They say he is doing exceedingly well although his temperature is still rather high but the wounds are healing cleanly. His getting back to the British lines he puts down to his Scouts training which gave him pluck, resource and coolness. In an attack he was hit in the right leg and got pitched among the wire entanglements, these gradually sank under his weight and he stuck without a move until he reached the ground. He then wriggled free and another shot hit him in the thigh. He lay still again for a time and again wriggled away, but his pack impeded him so he cut it off. As he got it almost free he was again spotted and a grenade was pitched at him, the pack got the bulk but a splinter wounded him below the right shoulder and perforated the lung. With the shot he rolled over and luckily fell into a shell crater and rolled to the bottom. He collected a field dressing and plugged the wounds in his thigh, leg and foot. He cut away his tunic but could not get at the wound in his shoulder to bandage it properly so he thought of his jack knife - he plugged the wound with a dressing and put the loop over his shoulder tightening it up with the knife, this stopped the bleeding a little. He knew it was hopeless to think of trying to reach our lines until the wounds had set and chances were more even. On the third night he managed for the first time to reach the top of the crater and for 6 hours was dragging himself over the intervening 500 yards to our lines. He shouted and called in and here he is now in hospital with every hope of recovery."


John Raymond Vautier

Sergeant John Raymond Vautier
13th Battalion, Essex Regiment
06/09/1916

Second son of Thomas E C & Edith M Vautier of Leytonstone
Born in St Helier, Jersey

Died at the Alexandra Hospital, Cosham of wounds received in France, aged 21 years

Notice of Death appears in Jersey Evening Post of Thursday 7 September 1916

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Thursday 7 September 1916

Roll of Honour. Another gallant Jerseyman, Scout Sergeant John Raymond Vautier of the 13th Essex (West Ham) Regiment has made the supreme sacrifice. The news will be received with regret by the many friends of the Sergeant for after the many exciting experiences he had passed through after being wounded and lying in the open for several days, everyone hoped that he would pull through. He was brought to England and the first news received was very encouraging, but unfortunately it has been willed otherwise and the Sergeant passed away at the Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth yesterday. Sergeant Vautier was only in his 22nd year and by his cheerful disposition had many friends in his native Isle. He was a member of the Leytonstone Troop of Boy Scouts who camped at Bel Royal in August 1914 and was the second son of Mr T E C Vautier, the well known schoolmaster, late of this Island. To his father and other members of the family we offer our sincere sympathy in their sad bereavement