Name
Arthur Saunders
31/07/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16973
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
'D' Company
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
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldbury, Aldbury Peace Memorial Institute Memorial, Aldbury
Pre War
Arthur George SAUNDERS was born on 31st July 1894, in Aldbury, Hertfordshire, son of George Saunders a Farm Labourer and Sarah Saunders (nee Hull). One of their ten children although two died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 7th October 1894, in the Parish of Aldbury, Herts.
1901 Census records Arthur aged 6, living with his parents, three brothers and three sisters in Malting Lane, Aldbury, Herts.
1911 Census, Arthur aged 16, is working as a Horseman on a Farm, living with his parents, two brothers and two sisters, still in Malting Lane, Aldbury.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted at Bedford, Beds, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment, issued with the service No. 16973.
On completion of his training, he was sent to France, arriving on 9th April 1915.
Seeing action on the Western front he received a Gun Shot Wound (GSW) to his left arm in May 1915 and admitted to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station.
Arthur was Killed in Action on 23rd April 1917, aged 23, during the Battle of Arras (Battle of Arras 9th April to 16th May 1917) he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing. Bay 5.
At the time of his death, he was with 'D' Company, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
Additional Information
His effects of £9-01s-00d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £12, went to his father George Saunders.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
