Private Alfred Gregory Sanders
| Date of Birth | 6 September 1893 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 22 |
| Date of Death | 13 August 1916 |
| Service Number | G/1921 |
| Military Service | 8th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | 10 Ravensbury Grove, Morden |
| Local Memorial | St. Lawrence Church, Morden |
Additional Information
Alfred Gregory Sanders was born in Morden to parents Alfred and Alice (nee Gregory) on 6th September 1893 and Baptised on 1st Oct 1893 at St. Lawrence Church, Morden. His parents had married in Paddington in December 1887 and his father worked as a carpenter / builder’s labourer. By 1891 his parents were living at 20 Garth Cottages with first child Mabel aged 11 months. (Living next door at number 22 were other relatives of the Sanders family)
By 1901 the growing family were now at 22 Garth Cottages: and Alfred was listed with four siblings: Mabel 10, Eva 5, Frank 2 and Hilda 2 months. He and his siblings most probably attended Morden Primary school in London Road.
By 1911 the family were at the same address: the two eldest girls Mabel ad Eva had left home to work as servants. Alfred was working as a Millers Van Boy and had a further four siblings: Arthur, Alice, Alex and Elsie 2 months. The family were living in 4 rooms and his parents had been married 23 years. Of 11 Children born to them two had died.
On 18th April 1912 aged 18 Alfred entered service as a Railway Porter with London, Brighton South Coast Railway, earning a wage of 14 Shillings per week.
With the outbreak of war, Alfred aged 21 enlisted on 14th September 1914 in Epsom with the * 8th Queens Royal West Surrey regiment and given the service number G/1921. He was described as 5’ 8 ¼ tall with a chest measurement of 37inches expanding to 40 inches, weight 140 lbs, having a Sallow Complexion, Grey eyes and dark brown hair. His occupation was listed as a Porter.
The 8th Battalion (The Queens) Royal West Surrey Regiment was raised in Guildford in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s Third new Army and assembled a Shoreham. The division suffered from a lack of equipment and trained officers and NCO’s to command the volunteers. By late June 1915 they moved to Aldershot for final training. Alfred embarked to France on 31st August 1915 with his unit.
In 1916 the 8th battalion suffered in the German gas attack at Wulverghem and then moved to the Somme, seeing action in the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont. The Battle of Guillemont took place late July and throughout August 1916. Alfred died of wounds received at Guillemont, in France on 13th August 1916 aged 22. He was buried at Corbie Communal cemetery Extension. Plot 2 Row A grave 97.
Plots 1 and 2 of the extension contain the graves of Officers and men who died of wounds in the Battle of the Somme, 1916.
Alfred’s name also appears on a panel at the Lychgate at St. Lawrence Church, Morden which serves as a local memorial and also on a brass plate in the Assembly Hall of Morden Primary School.