SAUNDERS William Thomas

William Saunders enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 25th April 1916 in New South Wales, Australia. On his attestation form he gave his age as 23 years 5 months, his place of birth as Netherton, Dudley, England, his occupation as a Labourer and his next of kin as his mother, Mrs Mary Saunders, Hampton Street, Netherton, Dudley, England. He was 5 feet 9¾ inches tall with brown eyes, dark brown hair and a fair complexion.

William sailed from Sydney on the 14th September 1916, arriving in Plymouth, England on the 2nd November 1916. The 2nd December 1916 found William in custody awaiting trial, his crime ‘Absent without leave from 06.00 on 28/11/16 till 22.00 on 29/11/16. Award 7 days F.P.No.2. Forfeit 2 days pay’. On the 14th December, William proceeded overseas to France where he proceeded to join the 53rd Battalion at Etaples. On the 11th March 1917 he was admitted to hospital with scabies, rejoining his unit on the 17th March 1917.

Eight weeks later on the 13th May 1917, William’s service papers record that he was ‘Accidentally Killed’. A Court of Enquiry was held:
FINDINGS OF COURT. The Court is of the opinion that Pte. Saunders was accidentally shot by No.4096 Pte Dinnen, J.A. who had taken the reasonable precaution of removing the magazine from his rifle.

On the 26th April 1922 it was noted by the Australian Graves Services that after exhaustive searches and investigations had been made to locate William’s actual burial place, this had not been possible.

For this reason, William is listed on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial which commemorates Australian Soldiers who fought in France and Belgium whose graves are not known.

William Saunders date of death is incorrectly given as the 13th March 1917 on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.