Name
Henry (poss Harry) Saunders
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/08/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266410
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RENINGHELST NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot III, Row A, Grave 24.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of Sarah (nee BIRCHMORE) and the late Charles 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.
Henry was born 1892 in Watford, and baptised 8 June 1892 at St Mary’s, Watford. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he lived in Watford, with his parents and nine siblings. On the 1911 Census, a general labourer aged 19, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested 18 January 1915 at Hertford, for the Territorial Force 4 years’ service in the U.K.; he lived in Watford.
He embarked Folkestone, Kent, and disembarked Calais 4 January 1917; he was attached to No. 3 Ent’g Battalion 26 January 1917.
He was approved Acting Lance-Corporal 29 March 1917, but reverted to Private on completion of duty with the 3rd Ent’g 9 August 1917.
He was formerly Private 4564 Hertfordshire Regiment; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 17 August 1915, and died at 140th Field Ambulance in France of wounds received on 25 August whilst one of a party of men cleaning bombs.
Additional Information
There is an article about Henry in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 5 May 1917. His brother Arthur died 21 April 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
