Please Note: On the Chideock Memorial the name is listed as Saunders.
Remembered with Honour
PRIVATE FREDERICK SANDERS
killed in action in Anzac, Gallipoli Peninsula on 25th April 1915
SHRAPNEL VALLEY CEMETERY
in Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Certificate: SANDERS, FREDERICK – courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Frederick Saunders was born in Brisbane, Australia in 1893. He was the son of Harold Robert Carew Sandersof Chideock and Catherine Sanders (nee Moran) native ofBrisbane,Australia. Harold (sometimes called Robert) Sanders was born in 1865 and the son of Charles Sanders and Charlotte Sanders (born 1839) of Chideock. In the 1881 Census Charles was a Footman at 3, Gloucester Street, Marylebone and it was after this that he decided to emigrate to Australia where he met his wife. Whilst in Australia they had four children but sadly Catherine died in 1895 when Frederick was two years of age. Frederick with his older brother Harold and two sisters Kate and Blance were then taken to Chideock from Brisbane to be cared for by their grandmother, Charlotte. Harold followed them to England in 1899-1900 and in the 1901 Census he is a butler for the 9th Earl of Cork and Orrerye at an address in Westminster, London. On the 1901 census Frederick and his siblings are to be found staying near their father in Redburn Street. Frederick’s father remarried and returned to Victoria in Australia in 1908 with only three children, young harold having died in Chideock.
Frederick Sanders enlisted 26th September 1914 and his records show him as Roman Catholic. He was reported missing and then reported ‘killed in action’ on 25th April 1915, aged 22 in Anzac, Gallopili Peninsular, Turkey. He is buried at Shrapnel Valley Cemetery inTurkey. Upon his son’s death Harold received his sons belongings ‘in a brown paper parcel’ which contained – sun goggles, pipe, notebook and photo’s. He was also sent his son’s medals, Victory and Star, a Memorial Plaque and King’s Message and three photographs of his grave inTurkey.
In August 1920 Harold left Australia for England sending a letter to the Australian War Office that all future correspondence be addressed to Chideock, Bridport, Dorset. He returned to Melbourne in 1921. His mother Charlotte Sanders continued to live in Chideock and died in 1923.
Frederick is remembered on the Australian War Memorial, Gallipoli Campaign Memorial Roll of Honour inCanberra and The Chideock War Memorial.