Frederick J. Saunders
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Frederick John Saunders was born on 18th September 1876 at Peckham, London, the son of William Saunders, described as a gentleman, and Elizabeth Saunders. He was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marines and entered the Royal Naval College, Greenwich on 8th February 1895. Passing out at the end of that year, he was appointed Lieutenant in the Chatham Division on 1st January 1896. In June 1897 Frederick was posted to the first-class protected cruiser HMS Powerful. After Wei-hai-wei was leased to Britain in July 1898 under the Convention with China, he formed part of the guard landed there. While returning from the China Station, the ship was diverted in October 1899 to South Africa for service in the Second Boer War. Frederick was twice gazetted for his service with the naval brigade landed to assist in the relief of the Siege of Ladysmith. From March to September 1900 he served aboard HMS Doris, flagship of the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station.
From June 1903 to May 1904 he was stationed in the Admiral-class battleship HMS Anson. Between January and May 1905 he served in the Royal Sovereign-class battleship HMS Royal Sovereign, followed by a brief posting in May 1905 to the Drake-class armoured cruiser HMS King Alfred. |
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Promoted to Captain on 8th May 1906, Frederick joined the Mediterranean Fleet flagship HMS Prince of Wales in September 1906, remaining until August the following year. He then served in the London-class battleship HMS Venerable from August 1907 to January 1908, and in June 1908 in the Edgar-class armoured cruiser HMS Royal Arthur. Frederick returned to the China Station in October 1908, joining the newly commissioned Invincible-class battlecruiser HMS Inflexible. From April 1909 until January 1910 he was again borne on the books of HMS King Alfred. On 28th May 1909 he was appointed Intelligence Officer at Singapore, and subsequently served in the China Station flagship HMS Minotaur until June 1912. Returning to Britain, Frederick first served with the Portsmouth Division before being posted to the Deal Depot in January 1914. In August he was transferred back to the Chatham Division and appointed Staff Officer. He had been promoted Major on 1st July 1914. On 22nd October 1915 he was drafted to HMS Victory for service with the Royal Marine Brigade. Frederick landed at Gallipoli on 22nd November 1915 and two days later assumed temporary command of the 1st Royal Marine Battalion. On 27th December he was appointed Brigade Major of the 2nd Battalion. Following the evacuation of Gallipoli, Lieutenant-Colonel Stroud, commanding the 2nd Brigade, submitted a report highlighting officers and men who had rendered especially valuable service during the withdrawal. Frederick’s name headed the list for favourable consideration, being commended “for excellent work in arranging details for the evacuation.” |
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On 9th February 1916 he was recorded as sick in camp, though no cause was specified. Between 21st February and 5th April he was posted with the 2nd RM Battalion to Stavros. On returning to Mudros he was appointed GSO2 at Mudros in addition to his duties as Brigade Major. Between 25th and 29th May he was admitted to hospital, the reason unrecorded. After disembarking in France, Frederick was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 30th May and given command of the Anson Battalion. His promotion appeared in the London Gazette of 4th July. On 12th November, as the Division moved into position for the following morning’s attack, Frederick was killed by shellfire in the communication trenches. He is buried in Hamel Military Cemetery. He was posthumously gazetted as Mentioned in Despatches on 4th January 1917. 
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