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Name: SAUNDERS, Arthur Courtenay (Capt.)
Nee: son of Robert Erasmus Saunders of Alton Pancras, Dorchester
Birth Date: 29.5.1883 Winchester
Death Date: 14.3.1915 Belgium, killed in action near St Eloi
First Date: 1912
Profession: Military
Area: Loiyangolani (Loiengalani)
Book Reference: HBEA, Women 1/95, Moyse, Gazette, Leader14, North
War Service: 2nd Battn. Duke of Cornwall's Regt.
General Information:
Women - built the fort at Mouwoligiteng springs in 1911 - an altogether charming spot first visited by Count Teleki on his journey to the lake in early 1888.
Moyse - 1912 - sent to Uganda to discuss plans for a combined expedition against the Turkana - the war interrupted this. ........... In April 1911, the post at Loiyengolani was taken over by Lt. A.C. Saunders promoted Capt. in Nov. 1911. Saunders' predecessor was Lt. H.A.D. Bocket-Pugh. Saunders was relieved by Lt. W. Lloyd-Jones
Gazette - 3/5/16 - Probate & Admin. - Arthur Courtney Saunders - probate granted in England to Hilda Gwladys Williams Freeman; late of Alton Pancras, Dorset. Captain 3 KAR. Killed on active service in Belgium 14/3/15
HBEA 1912 - Subaltern 3/KAR, Loiyangolani.
Women - took over from Lt. Bockett-Pugh at Loiengalani. An enthusiastic subaltern in the regiment; a busy man, he found much to occupy him, shooting, fishing in the lake and energetically patrolling the district.
Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour Younger son of Robert Erasmus Saunders of Dorchester by his wife Edith Marion daughter of Colonel James William Graves. Born Rownhams House near Southampton 29 May 1883, educated Northwood House near Winchester and Clifton College, Gazetted second lieutenant in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry from the Militia 4 May 1901, promoted lieutenant 6 July 1904 and captain 26 October 1911; was employed with the King's African Rifles from 20 October 1909 to December 1914, served in the Somaliland expedition 1908 to 1910, was in command of the Chebling Patrol against the Marakwet tribe October and November 1913, and of a force of the King's African Rifles when they repulsed a much stronger force of the enemy, including 50 Europeans with six maxims, at Mizima on Tsavo River 26 September 1914. Joined his own regiment 25 January 1915 and went to France 6th March and was killed in action at St Eloi 14 March 1915. Unmarried.
Buried at Dickebusch about 3 K from Ypres. Lieutenant Colonel Tuson wrote: he had only arrived the previous day, and was commanding a company on the day the Germans attacked the trenches near St Eloi, and during the attack was moving by a communication trench from one of his trenches to another when he was shot through the head and killed instantaneously. Major Dickinson said he was doing extremely well when he was killed.
He won the officers' championship cut at the Garrison rifle meeting at Gibraltar in 1906, and played in the polo team of his battalion.