Name
Edwin Charles Saunders
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/06/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18328
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Edwin Charles Saunders was born in 1891 in Baldock, the son of Edwin and Jane Saunders (nee Wren) and baptised on 14 February 1892 in Baldock. He was one of ten children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Park Street, Baldock, where his father was working as a brewer's drayman. His mother died in 1902 and although his father was living in Church Street, Baldock in 1911 and working as a farm labourer, Edwin has not been located.
His father's address was later recorded as 34a Church Street, Baldock and Norton Street, Baldock.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving with the 1st Battalion in France from 1 January 1915.
Edwin was killed in action, aged 24, and death was presumed on or since 4 June 1916, during the Battle of Arras. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £6. No pay was owing as Edwin's account was overdrawn. Although pension cards exist in respect of Edwin and his brother Sidney, they given no indication if a pension was paid.
Brother to Sidney George Saunders who served with the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) and died in 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
