SAUNDERS, FREDERICK JOHN,
Lieutenant, was born at Peckham 18 September 1876, fifth and youngest son of
William Saunders, of Clevedon, Sydenham. He was educated at the Mercers'
School, London. He was appointed to his first commission in the Royal
Marine Light Infantry 1 February 1895, and promoted Lieutenant in January
1896. He was sent to China, where he joined the Powerful, and served with
the Royal Marine Guard at Wei-hai-Wei in July 1898. In 1899, on the
outbreak of the Boer War, the Powerful was ordered to the Cape, and on 20
October 1899, the first Naval Brigade was landed to defend Stormberg,
Lieutenant Saunders commanding a detachment. He fought in every action in
which the brigade took part, including the Battles of Belmont, Graspan and
Modder River (preceding the Relief of Kimberley), and at Paardeberg, where
Lord Roberts defeated Cronje and decided the fate of Bloemfontein. He took
part in Lord Roberts's march into Bloemfontein, acting as Adjutant, Naval
Brigade. He advanced to Kronstad, was seized with enteric and invalided
home. He was mentioned in Despatches 30 March 1900; received the Queen's
Medal with four clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished
Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "Frederick John Saunders,
Lieutenant, Royal Marine Light Infantry. In recognition of services during
the operations in South Africa". An official despatch says that the
decoration was awarded "for his gallant work at the Battle of Graspan, where
he climbed to the top of a hill, gallantly leading his men all the time
under a heavy fire" (Official Despatch). The Insignia were sent to the
Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, 29 November 1900, and presented in South
Africa 11 June 1901. Being the tallest man in the Naval Brigade, he had
some very narrow escapes; one bullet passed through his pocket-book, another
through the magazine of the rifle he was firing (without exploding four live
cartridges still remaining in the magazine); one went through his sleeve,
another through his helmet, and yet another through his water-bottle.
Before the close of the campaign, he was awarded the Queen's Medal, with
clasps for Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg and Bloemfontein, and also the
King's Medal. He was promoted Captain in 1901. Lieutenant Colonel Saunders
was appointed Naval Intelligence Officer at Singapore, 1909-12, and served
on the Staff of the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Chatham, 1913—14. He was
promoted Major, July 1914. During the European War he served in Gallipoli
as Brigade Major of the 3rd Royal Marine Division, and was mentioned in
General Monro's Despatches for distinguished service during the evacuation.
On the transference of the Royal Naval Division to France in May 1916, he
was promoted Temporary Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 1st Arison
Battalion. He was killed in action from shell fire 12 November 1916,
after commanding his battalion with the utmost valour and distinction. His
death occurred only the day before the date of Sir Douglas Haig's Despatches
in which the gallantry of Lieutenant Colonel Saunders receives conspicuous
mention. He married, 31 July 1902, Muriel, only daughter of A Maxwell Tod,
of Walmer, Kent, and they had one son, Maxwell Pornerov, born 29 October
1903.
DSO, QSA (4) Bel
M-R Paard Drief (Lt HMS Powerful), 1914-15 Star (Lt Col, DSO, RMLI), BWM,
Victory Medal (Lt Col RMLI).
Royal Marine
Museum, Portsmouth 1992.
