Name
Sydney Thomas Saunders
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
45942
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
51st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 136.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial,
Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross
Pre War
Sydney Thomas Saunders was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in 1898, son of Frederick Saunders a, Coachman/Domestic Servant and Ellen Saunders (nee Rogers). One of ten children although one died in infancy
1901 Census records Sydney aged 3, living with his parents, brother Ernest (15), and three sisters, Lily (13), Daisy (10), & Mable (7) at, 64 Albury Grove Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census, Sydney (13) is still at school, living with his parents, brother Ernest (25) a Plumber and sister Mabel (17) at “The Manor House” Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Herts, his father is recorded as a Caretaker, assisted by his wife Ellen.
Wartime Service
Sydney enlisted at Charring Cross, London, on 1st November 1915, joining the 15th (Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment (a Territorial Unit) and issued with the service number 4540.
On completion of his training, he embarked at Folkstone on 6th July 1916, for Boulogne, France, arriving the same day. He returned to the UK on 23rd October 1916 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 29th November 1916 and issued with the service number 45942. He was stationed at Belton Park, Grantham, in Lincolnshire, for Machin Gun Training.
Returning to France on 28th March 1918, sailing from Folkstone to Boulogne, on his arrival in France he went to Camiers, just outside of Etaples, the base camp for the Machine Gun Corps. He joined his Battalion in the field on 4th April 1918, posted missing five days later on 9th April 1918. (It is believed he was wounded in action and take a Prisoner of War (POW) and died of his wounds, while a prisoner of the Germans, the location of his burial is not known) He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial in France, to the missing.
Additional Information
His mother Ellen Saunders received a dependents pension of 5/- a week from 18th February 1919.
His effects of £14-15s-01d, inclusive of his £14, war gratuity went to his father Frederick Saunders.
His service record has survived and is available on-line.
Sydney is also commemorated on his parents' headstone in Cheshunt Burial Ground. His part of the inscription reads:
Also Sydney Thomas (Saunders)
THE DEARLY BELOVED YOUGEST SON OF THE ABOVE (Frederick Saunders) REPORTED MISSIMNG IN THE GREAT WAR APRIL 9TH. 1918. AGED 20 YEARS
A FEW MORE YEARS SHALL ROLL.
A FEW MORE SEASONS COME:
AND WE SHALL BE WITH THOSE THAT REST
ASLEEP WITHIN THIS TOMB.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
