Name
Arthur Saunders
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
23623
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL ROAD EAST CEMETERY, ST. LAURENT-BLANGY
Plot 1, Row E, Grave 5.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Charles and Sarah (nee BIRCHMORE) SAUNDERS.
His parent’s marriage is proving elusive. Charles died 1917 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 18 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Sarah died 1918 in the Watford district aged 55.
Arthur was born 1893 in Watford, and baptised 3 November 1893 at St Mary’s, Watford. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 8 he lived in Watford, with his parents and nine siblings. On the 1911 Census, a worker in a cocoa factory aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action during the Battle of Arras in a support line near Arras.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Arthur’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There are two articles about Arthur in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 5 May 1917; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 2 February 1918.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
