Description:Lieutenant George Savage of Cobridge Road, Burslem in uniform. After training at Brocton Camp on Cannock Chase George was stationed in Mesopotamia during World War 1, where he wrote his self-published book 'Mespots'. This photograph was taken while he was in Jerboyieh, Mesopotamia.
The first page of his book begins 'On August 12th 1917 I left Brocton Camp in charge of 25 men who were going to the 7th Nth Staffs in Mespots'...
Frederick George Savage initially attested into the 5th North Staffordshire Regiment as a Private in 1914 but was commissioned as an officer in April 1915. Many of the North Staffs' officers and men were sent out to the east, and had most interesting experiences. Lieutenant Frederick George Savage was an original member of the 3rd/5th, and was with .the 1st/5th in France in 1916. He left England in August, 1917, for India, and arrived at Taranto in Italy without adventure. On leaving Taranto the transport in which he was travelling was rammed by one of the escorting destroyers, and had a hole knocked in her bow. She was, however, able to proceed on her voyage, and arrived next morning at a harbour in Albania, near Corfu, where she lay two days on account of enemy submarines. She stole out again at night under the escort of cruisers and destroyers, and finally arrived safely at Port Said.
From there he sailed to Basra, and then went up the river in another steamer to the base camp with 14 men from the 5th North. The heat was terrific, and no work could be done between 7 a.m. and 6. p.m., and there were many deaths from heat stroke. He left for Bombay, on September 15th 1917 on the Edavana.