Name
Bertram Charles Saunders
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265692
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of Walter and Amy (nee SHERFIELD) SAUNDERS of Watford.
His parents married 1889 in the Watford district. Walter died 27 August 1948 in St Alban’s, Herts, aged 82, and was buried 2 September in North Watford Cemetery; Amy died 22 November 1952 in Bricket Wood, Herts, aged 88, and was buried 28 November, also in North Watford Cemetery.
Bertram was born 24 October 1893 in Watford, and baptised 17 December 1893 at St Mary’s, Watford. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, an oil and colour shop assistant aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted 7 September 1914 in Hertford for the Duration of the War: a shop assistant aged 20, 5’8″ tall, C of E.
He served at Home 7 September 1914 to 20 January 1915, and in France 21 January 1915 to 4 October 1916. Was made provisional Lance-Corporal in the Field 31 July 1916.
He was on trench patrol 1 October 1916 in Auchon Villers when wounded and sent to Western General Hospital, Manchester, from 5 October to 2 November 1916.
He was tried by Court Martial 9 January 1917 and sentenced to six months detention [although his record doesn’t say why], but was released 5 March 1917 prior to proceeding overseas 15 March 1917.
He was formerly Private 2833 Hertfordshire Regiment; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 21 January 1915, and was killed in action, regarded for official purposes as having died on or since 31 July 1917.
Additional Information
Listed as a lance corporal on the regimental memorial. There is an In Memoriam to Bertram in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 2 August 1919. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
