The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Company Sergeant Major W B Saunders

Home

Photograph by "Belgianwaffle"

Company Serjeant Major Walter Bertram SAUNDERS, L/4607, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 24th August 1914.

21st October 1878, born Newington Butts, Essex, son of George & Caroline Saunders, 74 James Street, Tower Hamlets / Court Lane, Hadlow, Kent.

3rd May 1895, enlisted 3rd Battalion, No.87., Special Reserve, Royal West Kent Regiment, age 17 years & 4 months, height 5ft 4⅛ inches, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, scar left forefinger, large mole left scapula & left side of neck; 10th November 1895, discharged on joining Regular Army.

Enlisted 11th November 1895, Tonbridge, Kent, age 18 years & 1 month, height 5ft 4¾ inches, 132lbs, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair, mole left shoulder blade & right clavical. Formerly general labourer. Resided 37 Scott Street, Maidstone, Kent / 5 Corona Terrace, Ham Hill, Snodland, Kent.

 5th July 1903, St Crispins, Bermondsey, *William Bertram Saunders, age 25, bachelor, Soldier, Shorncliffe, Cheriton, father George Saunders, coachman,  married Frances Amelia Costin, age 22, spinster, 135 Keetons? Road, father Henry William Costin, deceased, Policeman. * register signed Walter Bertram Saunders.

Children - Walter Bertram Saunders, born 8th April 1904, Shornecliffe; Francis Daisy Saunders, born 16th July 1906, Malta; Violet Blanche Saunders, born 26th June 1911, Chatham.

Home, 11th November 1895 to 29th November 1897; India, 30th November 1897 to 23rd March 1899; Home, 24th March 1899 to 12th September 1899; Egypt, 13th September 1899 to 4th March 1900; Home, 5th March 1900 to 15th March 1900; South Africa, 16th March 1900 to 3rd October 1901; Home, 4th October 1901 to 17th November 1904; Malta, 18th November 1904 to 27th December 1906; Home, 28th December 1906 to 13th August 1914; BEF, 14th August 1914 24th August 1914.

11th November 1895, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 17th March 1896, posted 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 10th September 1897, appointed Lance Corporal; 2nd October 1897, 3rd Class Certificate of Education; 26th October 1898, 2nd Class Certificate of Education; 24th March 1899, posted 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st August 1899, promoted Corporal; 22nd December 1899, passed examination for rank of Corporal; 21st August 1901, appointed Lance Sergeant; 16th August 1901, promoted Sergeant; 22nd August 1901, Johannesburg, admitted to Hospital 16th July, gun shot wound to chest, healed but shortness of breath, to Durban for England; 23rd September 1901 to 3rd October 1901, Netley Hospital, wound gunshot; 4th October 1901, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th February 1902, tried & sentenced by Court Martial, reduced to rank of Corporal, drunkenness on duty; 25th September 1902 to 27th September 1902, wound forehead, accident, stitched; 10th November 1902, permitted to extend his service to complete ?? years with the Colours; 13th December 1902, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 1st February 1904, Dublin Barracks, four teeth extracted; 7th April 1904, Dover, posted Provisional Battalion; 1st June 1904, promoted Sergeant; 4th November 1904, qualified in Musketry at Hythe; 18th November 1904, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 13th December 1905, promoted Colour Sergeant; 26th December 1905, re-engaged for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Malta, for such term as shall complete 21 years service; 21st February 1906, passed examination for rank of Sergeant;

27th November 1907, initiation into Military Jubilee Lodge, Freemasons, resided Dover

2nd October 1912, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 13th November 1912, 1st Class Certificate of Education;

27th September 1913, Employment Sheet - An honest sober, trustworthy and industrious man. A good clerk with a thorough knowledge of army accounts.Has great powers of command and control over men, and has a pleasant and cheerful manner in dealing with them. He is well fitted to fill any position of responsibility. He has plenty of self confidence and takes a pride in his work. He is physically strong and active. He was an officers groom to Lord Roberts for 4 months in 1906, and  was in charge of an officer's polo ponies for 6 months subsequently. He was with M.I. in South Africa as a Sergeant for 19 months

1st October 1913, now ranks as Company Sergeant Major; 14th August 1914, posted BEF; 24th August 1914, wounded & missing, death presumed.

1919 December, Malling Registration District, France Saunders married Herbert J Box.

20th May 1919, Statement of Relatives (document damaged) - Widow, Frances Amelia Saunders, 39 Scott Street, Maidstone, Kent; Children, Walter Bertram Saunders, 8th April 1904, Masonic Institute, Bushey, Hertfordshire; Francis Daisy Saunders, 16th July 1906, 39 Scott Street, Maidstone, Kent; Father, none; Mother, Caroline Saunders, Court Lane, Hadlow, Kent; Brothers - Jim Saunders, age 38, BEF France; Jack Saunders, age 34, London, address unknown; Sisters - Blanche Dunk?, age 2?, Golden Green, Hadlow.

20th August 1923, letter from Imperial War Graves Commission - Forwarded herewith for disposal is an Identity Disc in respect of the above named. This disc was found, with others, at Spandau amongst effects of French soldiers and was forwarded by the Commissions Representative in Berlin. The soldier in question is reported as buried in Grave No 65, Hautrage German Cemetery.

Buried at Hautrage Military Cemetery, I. B. 12., Belgium.