BORN HULL 1893. SON OF HARRY & SARAH ANN SAUNDERS (1855-1915). SON OF A BREWER’S LABOURER. HE HAD THREE BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS.
BEFORE ENLISTING HE WORKED FOR THE HULL BREWERY.
HE ENLISTED IN THE HULL PALS. SERVED WITH “A” COMPANY, THE 10TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (HULL COMMERCIALS). HIS COMMANDING OFFICER, LIEUT. RICE, DESCRIBED THOMAS SAUNDERSON AS THE BRAVEST MAN HE HAD MET & RECOMMENDED HIM FOR THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL. THE COMPANY HAD BEEN ORDERED TO CAPTURE FOUR LINES OF GERMAN TRENCHES, BUT MET HEAVY RESISTANCE. IT WAS WHILE RETIRING FROM ONE THESE TRENCHES THAT TOM WAS HIT BY A BIG SHELL. HIS WOUNDS WERE SEVERE AND IT WAS REMARKED THAT IT WAS BETTER HE HAD NOT SURVIVED. HE DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 01/03/1917, AGED 24.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS SISTER, ANNIE GERTRUDE PARKES, FLORENCE SAUNDERSON, MRS HARRIET WILSON AND ELDEST BROTHER, WILLIAM HERBERT SAUNDERSON.
HIS PROBATE ADDRESS WAS 29 TYNE STREET, HESSLE ROAD, HULL, WHERE HIS SISTER ANNIE LIVED. HE LEFT £10 IN HIS WILL, TO HIS BROTHER, HERBERT SAUNDERSON, LANCE CORPORAL, IN THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HIS OTHER BROTHER, JOHN SERVED IN THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY AND WAS WOUNDED IN THE WAR.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 20TH MARCH 1917 WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. *
HE IS BURIED AT COUIN NEW BRITISH CEMETERY. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “A SACRIFICE TOO GREAT FOR WORDS”.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE MEMORIAL AT ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWINGTON, HULL.
DCM Citation London Gazette 17/04/1917: “For conspicious gallantry and devotion to duty. Although very severely wounded, he continued to encourage his men, and refused help until the company had taken up its new position. He was exposed to heavy fire throughout, and in great pain”
