Name
Bertram Saunders
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/01/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3658
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
'4' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
VIII. C. 177.
France
Headstone Inscription
With honour and love
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Bertram was born in 1885 in Hitchin and his parents were George and Mary Ann Saunders.
In 1891 the family were living at 54 Tilehouse Street, Hitchin where they remained in the next census. Present were both parents: George (40) and Mary (39), with George working as an agricultural labourer. Their children were: Herbert (14), Ethel (11), Florence (8), Bertram (5) and Beatrice (2).
In 1901 both parents were still present, with George and working as a bricklayer’s labourer. Of the children listed above Herbert was absent, Florence was now Florrie, Bertram was now 16 and a grocer’s apprentice. New siblings were Aggie (10) and Gladys (2).
Bertram married Lilian Amelia Angell (b 10/12/1884) early in 1906. They lived in 30 Old Park Road, Hitchin and had a son Cecil Bertram in 1907 and a daughter, and Eveline Westrope, in 1909.
By 1911 the family were at the same address. Present were both parents: Bertram (25) and Lilian (26) and both children listed above. Bertram was working as a fellmongers labourer – skinner and the census recorded they had been married for 5 years with 3 children, of whom 1 had died.
Before joining up he was employed by Ewart & Son engineers in Letchworth and prior to that had worked for Quenby & Co. the grocers of Bucklersbury in Hitchin.
From his service number he enlisted between 6 September and 4 November 1914, in fact his service record gives the 30 October 1914. He was 29 years and 1 month old, 5’ 5 1/2 “ tall.
Officially Bertram was recorded as living in Hitchin, Herts, when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Bertram was given the Regimental Number 3658 and was on Home service and training from his enlistment to 20 August 1916. He embarked from Folkestone on 22 August 1916, arriving in Boulogne the following day. He had been a corporal but reverted to a private when he embarked.
He joined his battalion on 10 September 1916 but became ill on 6 October and was admitted to 44 Casualty Clearing Station, then to the 133 Field Ambulance and then to 25 General Hospital where, on the 14th, he was diagnosed with Trench Fever and transferred to 7 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne. He then went the rest camp on (24th) and via 25 General Hospital in Etaples he re-joined his battalion 6 November.
Bertram was wounded on 7 January 1917 with a gunshot wound to his back and admitted to 134 Field Ambulance, 16? Casualty Clearing Station and he died in No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital on the 15th.
He was buried in Plot 8, Row C, Grave 177 in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France. The gravestones in this cemetery are laid flat. A private inscription on the stone reads "With honour and love".
It was reported that he wrote home on the 10th January 1917 that all was well, but perhaps that is when it was received. Corporal Harry Smart (A.S.C.) wrote: “I was by his bedside when he died. He was a brave man, right to the last, and I assure you everything was done for him that was possible. He was wounded very badly in the back in two places and the shrapnel had to removed by an operation, which had a good result. After this he was quite bright. It was not till twelve hours afterwards that the change came, and the end was sudden at 1.20am on the morning of January 1915.”
He offered to send the pieces of shrapnel that had killed her husband. The response is not known.
His personal equipment was returned to his widow on 17 May 1917.
Additional Information
After his death £4 10s 7d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Lilian A, on 17 May 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £9 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 9 October 1919.
His pension cards record his widow as his next of kin, living at 30 Old Park Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant paid on 8 August 1917 and a pension of 22s 11d a week from 23 July 1917. The card named his widow and the two children: Cecil Bertram (b 27/5/1907) and Eveline Westrope (b 2/1/1909).
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
