Name
Ernest Saunders
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/04/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
1488
Lancashire Fusiliers
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the fallen on the Gallipoli Peninsular, Turkey.
UK & Other Memorials
St Ippolyts Village Memorial, Roll of Honour, St Ippolyts Church
Pre War
It should be noted that Ernest’s mother name is sometimes (1901 census) recorded Ginetta Eugenie, and sometimes Jeanetta Eugenie, however most other records give her name as Jean(n)ette Eugenie. Also that she had a difficult past before her marriage to his father and, it seems, and a difficult relationship with him. There was also a large age difference between them with Henry born circa 1830 and Jeanette in 1866. We therefore hope that we have untangled in correctly below.
Ernest (probably Ernest Freeman) Saunders was born in 1891, in St Ippolyts(*1), Herts, son of Henry and Jeanette Eugenie Saunders (nee Gardiner), they had married in Hackney on 6 January 1890. At that time Henry was a widower and a farmer and Jeanette as unmarried spinster.
Henry Saunders was born in Whitwell, Herts and had been married before, we think to a Mary, but he has proved difficult to positively identify in the censuses before 1891. He was born circa 1830 and died in 1906 in Hitchin. Before then, in
Jeanette Eugenie Saunders (nee Gardiner) was born in 1866 in Islington, London. Between 2 July and 8 July 1889, she was in the Hackney Union Workhouse – this would fit with Bertie’s birth. Then she married Henry in 1890, her father was recorded as John Freeman Gardiner, a photographer.
In 1891 the family were living at Gosmore, near Hitchin. Present were both parents: Henry (61) and Genetta Ugenie (Jeanette Eugenie, 25), with Henry recorded as living on own means. Their children were Bertie C (1) and Ernest F at 5 months.
The 1901 Henry (74) and his sons, Bertie (12) and Ernest (10), were living with living at Mill Lane, Gosmore, in the home of Alfred William Saunders (76) a widower and wood carter. The two children were listed as grandsons, but they were sons – the former probably assumed because of the age difference. Also present were Marta Day (42, daughter), also widowed, Ada Day (16, granddaughter) and visitor Henrietta Hawkins (3, visitor) – relations mention are to Alfred.
The following information comes from a report in the Sunday People (Sunday) newspaper dated 15 August 1901 reporting on a magistrate’s hearing, in which Eugenie Gardiner was suing Henry for money arrears and an allowance. This reported that she had previously been married to a youth named Gardiner when she was 17 and it is suggested that he had left her and gone to Australia. Which does beg the question of who the John Freeman Gardiner was who is recorded as her father on the wedding records, however the article did conclude that she was legally Henry’s wife.
Reporting on the history of their relationship, it commented on the significant age difference and that soon after she met Henry a child was born in Islington (Bertie). She took out a summons and got an order for 5s a week from him. Soon after that they married, but it was reported “they lived a very unhappy life, and several times separated.” They went on to have five children, but only Bertie and Ernest were living. After a one particular quarrel, she said that she had heard from her first husband in Australia and wanted £10 from Henry then she would leave and join her first husband there. Henry wanted her to make a declaration to that effect to the minister of the parish, which she, did but later denied the content. She claimed that Henry – the report referring to him as ‘the old man’ - neglected their two boys (Bertie and Ernest). It seems inferred that they were living with Henry, and they were brought into the court, and it was noted, appeared to be well fed and clothed.
The magistrate concluded that it was complicated case, the statement had been made to obtain £10 and that there was no doubt that she was legally Henry’s wife. He asked of Henry would take her back he replied “no, I dare not. She threatened to stab me.” The magistrate said that he could quite understand the old man not wanting her back again. He ruled that there had been desertion on the old man's part, and setting aside the other claims, treated Eugenie Gardiner as Mrs Saunders, and made an order of separation, with five shillings. A week for the wife; the husband have custody of the children.
Henry Saunders died in Hitchin in 1906. Jeanette Saunders married Richard James Cox in Paddington on 21 October 1913, and they lived at 8 Willcott Road, Acton, London – this information comes from Richard’s enlistment papers dated 8 October 1916, when he was 40. At that time he had three children and Jeanette listed a child James Cyril Cox Gardine, born 13 January 1913 and presumably their joint child.
By 1911 it seems that Bert had joined the Army and was at Maida Barracks Part Area 8, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, we have yet to find Ernest in the census.
Officially Ernest was recorded as born in Hitchin (*1 St Ippolyts) and enlisting in London.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted in London and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, with the service number 1488 and probably enlisted in 1914 after war was declared or was already serving in that Regiment.
In August 1914 the Battalion were in Karachi and quickly returned to England, landing 2 January 1915 and moved to Nuneaton.. They came under orders of 86th Brigade, 29th Division on <arch 16th, then sailed for Gallipoli via Egypt and landed in Gallipoli 25 April 1915. The Battalion left their two-naval transport ships and went ashore in small landing craft on the 25th April 1915
His medal records record that his entered overseas service commenced on 25 April 1915. Other records confirm that he was killed in action on that date when he and his Battalion, stormed “W” Beach, West of Cape Helles, Gallipoli, from their landing craft and met heavy and organised resistance from the Ottomans, who were in well prepared positions. “W” Beach was later renamed “Lancashire Landing” and six members of the Battalion were later awarded VCs for their actions on that day.
All of this is almost certainly accurate, the only slight doubt relates the enquiries made of the British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List, Wounded & Missing – usually by family members. The records showing that enquires (correspondence) were made on July 17th, 24th and August 2nd, 9th and 30th. All of which refer to Ernest being reported missing on 11 May 1915. The explanation is probably simply that he died on or near the beach, as huge numbers did, and in the chaos that followed it took until May 11th to work out had made it from the beach and who was missing.
Ernest’s body was either buried in an unmarked grave or washed out to sea, so he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the fallen on the Gallipoli Peninsular, Turkey.
Additional Information
*1 Although recorded as born in Hitchin, it was St Ippolyts. Hitchin was probably recorded as the nearest 'large' town or ‘postal’ town to St Ippolyts.
After his death £7 14s 8d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother, Eugenie, on 12 February 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 21 July 1919, but at this time she was named as Eugenie S, Cox.
His pension cards record Jeanette E Cox as his mother and as his next of kin, living at 8 Wilcott Road, Acton Hill, London W3. She was awarded a pension of 5s a week awarded on 2 April 1918. Later the address was amended to Westover, Bull Lane, Gerrards Cross, Bucks. and later still to 6 Holborn House, Sloane Square, London, SW.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Stuart Osborne, Jonty Wild
