The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with S.

Surnames Index


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

A Saunders .     British Army

A Saunders served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt Alan Richard Saunders .     Royal Air Force 76 Sqd. (d.17th Jan 1943)




LAC. Albert Edward Saunders .     Royal Air Force 218 Squadron

L.A.C Albert Saunders Fitter 2A. with 218 Sqdn RAF survived the sinking of the Lancastria.




Albert William Saunders .     British Army 1st Btn. Beds and Herts Regiment

Albert William Saunders served with the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment at Kempston Barracks and in Burma.




Gnr. Arnold Frank Saunders .     British Army Royal Artillery   from Southampton




Dvr. Arthur Saunders .     Royal Army Service Corps   from 35 Saxon Avenue, Hanworth, Middlesex, London

I recently went on holiday to Croatia and whilst I was there I met a lovely old gentleman who related to me the story of how he was was evacuated to Italy in 1945 where a soldier called Arthur Saunders showed him great kindness.

He had some contact once he was shipped out and I have a photocopy of a letter which I will attach. I am just 50 years old so I obviously have no recollections of any conflict but I was so moved by this gentleman's deep recollection, his eyes were filling up as he told me of the kindness that this young soldier showed to him so many years ago. I think this is shown by the document I have attached, he has saved this one letter for so many years in the hope that someone could track down his 'mate' Arthur Saunders.

I am going to continue to research this soldier on the web and I think I have found a photo of D Platoon, 430 General Transport Company RASC, Central Mediterranean Force (CMF) D3/0822 Jan 1944 but this is held in Catterick which is quite a way away from me in Brighton.

If anyone could help me out I'd be really grateful, it is quite a story I think!!




AW Saunders .     British Army

AW Saunders served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




F/O. B. V. Saunders .     Royal Canadian Air Force 419 (Moose) Squadron

F/O Saunders was a Bomb Aimer with 419 Squadron based at Middleton St George near Darlington.




Lt. Charles William Thomas Saunders DSO..     Royal Navy HMS Rorqual   from Sandown, Isle of Wight

My father, Lt (Engineering)Charles Saunders, served on the minelaying submarine, HMS Rorqual during most of it's Mediterranean career. Before joining the submarine service during the War, he had been serving as an officer on HMS Shropshire in 1939; in charge of the Walrus catapult launching system. I suspect he trained for submarines in 1940 - 41. I am sure he would have known and served under two of Rorqual's CO's Dewhurst and LW Napier, because I remember him telling stories of the Ursus incident and the faulty torpedo which forced Rorqual to dive out of harm's way as it was going round in circles, eventually exploded.

Also he described an incident where Rorqual was on the surface at night near the island of Pantellaria (near Tunisia) with faulty aft mine doors. In discussion with Lt Commander Napier, my father was instructed to go outside in the water with a colleague to try to sort out the problem of the jammed doors. He was advised that if the submarine had to dive in an emergency, both of them should swim to the island and await to be collected the next evening. There is also the story of the successful mining of the 'Ankara' outside Tunis harbour. Mr father also recalled an Admiralty signal congratulating Rorqual on this success, stating: "Rorqual Well Done".

I'm afraid I do not know much more than this and other reminiscences are sketchy. My father died in 1970 at Newport, Isle of Wight. He retired from the Royal Navy in the early to middle 1950s with the rank of commander.




Charles Saunders .     British Army 2nd Btn. Welsh Guards

Charles Saunders. 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards On 21st May 1940 I was with the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Guards when we arrived in Boulogne with the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards, to evacuate the British headquarters staff (including the Duke of Gloucester, whose job was liaison with the French forces). We landed in Boulogne Harbour but found that the staff and the Duke had left the day before we arrived. Our company established a temporary headquarters, and I was one of the guards outside. We were told that we would be taken by boat back to Britain as soon as it could be arranged. There was a lot of fighting going on in the town. The next day I was sent to try and find a stretcher for a wounded soldier. I found some stretcher-bearers, but they wouldn’t come with me. When I returned to the headquarters I found that everyone had gone – except the wounded soldier and two other soldiers who were looking after him. We made a stretcher from some sacks and some pieces of wood and I told the other two to take the wounded man to the hospital in the town. I then went off to find my company again. I found them elsewhere in the town. We were sent back to the harbour to get the boat back to Britain. However, there was only room on the boat for 800 men: 1,200 were left behind in Boulogne.

We were marched away from Boulogne, south along the coast. But we soon found we were marching towards a German machine gun post. We had to escape and hide. Eight of us hid in a building, and later four went off to see if they could find a way back to the harbour. We didn’t see them again. The four of us who remained (Charles, Arthur, Richard and William) spent the night in the building and in the morning we decided to go down to the harbour ourselves. As we approached the harbour someone began firing at us and we took shelter in a large building – a house - belonging to a transport firm. Fortunately the door was not locked. The house was empty. After a while we tried to leave, but we saw Germans coming around the corner. We ran back into the house and locked the doors. We expected the Germans to come after us, but nobody came.

We were in the house for about eight days. All we could find to eat and drink was sugar, some wine left in the bottoms of bottles we found, and rainwater. On the eighth day the water came on in the house. We lit a fire. Someone outside saw the smoke and knocked on the door. We saw that it was a Frenchman and we let him in. His name was Jean Abras. He had about three colleagues with him. Jean sent one of them to fetch a young schoolboy who could speak a little English. With the boy’s help they told us that they would get some food and civilian clothes for us. Jean took us out of the back of the house. We walked to Le Portel and then to Outreau. In Le Portel we walked right past the German headquarters! We then arrived at Jean’s mother’s house. Jean’s mother made us welcome. Somehow she managed to feed all of us. It must have been difficult for her as food was rationed, but she was helped in this by the great generosity of her family and friends.Sometimes we used to walk through the fields down to the beach to collect shellfish to help with the food rations. If we saw any Germans we would walk the other way!

We stayed with the family until 8th August. It was quite a big house. Maman Abras lived there with Jean and his wife Maria and five children: Marie Christine, Jeanne, Jean, Pipette and another small child who was very ill and unfortunately died the next year, I think. There were also Jean’s cousins Coco and Ninis (I think they were cousins). Downstairs were Maman Abras’s niece and her two daughters. We lived as part of the family. I used to get up first in the morning and make the coffee for everyone. The family taught us some French, and we tried to teach them a little English. We had a good time with them. Sometimes we would all sing together.

One of us would always sit near a window to watch in case any Germans came near the house. One day it was my turn to be on watch. Someone spoke to me and I looked away from the window. At that moment a German car stopped at the house. I gave the warning as soon as I realised, but it was too late. We tried to escape from the back of the house, but a German soldier had already reached the back door. We then went up to the roof of the house and hid in a cupboard. We were there for about two hours before they found us. We (and the Abras family) were taken to the gendarmerie as prisoners, and then we were moved to Arras.

Originally we soldiers, Jean, Coco and Ninis shared the same cell, but later we had individual cells. The soldiers were taken to the German Field Police headquarters for interrogation. Each of us was questioned alone and we were not allowed to talk to each other. But when we arrived back at the gendarmerie a very friendly gendarme said “Would you like to have a conference together now?”. He opened the five cells (there were five because there was another British soldier who was a prisoner there) and we could walk into one cell to talk together. The gendarme shut the door but did not lock it. He said that if he told us to come out quickly, we should go back to our own cells as quickly as we could. We could then talk about our interrogations. We made sure that we all told the same story to the Germans whenever we were interrogated. I didn’t find out what had happened to the Abras family until Jean wrote to me after the war.

From Arras they moved us to Lille, then back to Boulogne. We were eventually put on a train – in cattle trucks – and taken to a prisoner of war camp in Poland, first a transit camp and then to Stalag 8b at Lamsdorf, near Opole. I was only there for three days when they told about 20 of us that we would be sent to join a mining group. However, we arrived at a place called Birkentahl (I think) where our job was not mining – it was helping to widen and deepen a river. This was in November or December 1940

Just after Christmas they moved us to Buchenlost near Gliwice, to do forestry work. I was there for the rest of the war.

The Abras family were wonderful people, very kind and very brave. I have always been extremely grateful for all they did for us in 1940. I am so pleased that our friendship remains to this day, 64 years later!




Charles Saunders .     British Army Middlesex Rgt.   from Staines

Charlie Saunders was with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy. I believe he started with the Middlesex Regiment but continued with the Royal Hampshires, possibly due to heavy losses. I also think he may have been a mortar man.




L/Cpl. Charles Richard Saunders .     Royal Navy Royal Naval Division

My paternal grandfather Charles Richard Saunders was born on 23rd February 1899. He signed up with the Royal Marine Light Infantry in August 1915 adding a year to his age and, after training, served as a Marine aboard HMS Havelock until September 1917 when his ship was due a refit, so he was sent to France in November 1917 as part of the Royal Naval Division. He saw action during February and March 1918 on the front line near Havrincourt Wood where he was wounded (shot and bayonetted) and captured. He then spent the rest of 1918 as a POW. He was honourably discharged on compassionate grounds in November 1919.

He also served in WW2 from 1939 in the RASC and the RAMC driving an ambulance. He ended up at Dunkirk in 1940. Unfortunately the ambulance was hit and he was seriously injured with a broken back. He was then captured owed his life to superb German surgeons who repaired his vertebrae. Afterwards he spent the rest of WW2 as a POW. He resumed his job as a lorry driver and had a good peaceful life until dying at the grand age of 98, a full life!




L/Cpl. Charles Richard Saunders .     British Army Royal Army Medical Corps

My paternal grandfather Charles Saunders signed up with the Royal Marine Light Infantry in August 1915 adding a year to his age serving as a Marine aboard HMS Havelock until September 1917. He then went to France as part of the Royal Naval Division. He saw action during February and March 1918 on the front line near Havrincourt Wood where he was wounded (shot and bayonetted) and captured. He then spent the rest of 1918 as a POW. He was honourably discharged on compassionate grounds in November 1919.

During WW2 he served in the RASC and was then transferred to the RAMC driving an ambulance. He ended up at Dunkirk in 1940. Unfortunately the ambulance was hit and he was seriously injured with a broken back. He was then captured and hospitalized and, by his own account, owed his life to superb German surgeons who repaired his vertebrae. Afterwards he spent the rest of WW2 as a POW, finally ending up in Berlin as it fell then returning to England. Resumed his job as a lorry driver and had a good peaceful life until dying at the grand age of 98 - a full life!




Pte. Charles Saunders .     British Army 5th Btn. Northamptonshire Regiment   from Ashford, Middlesex

Charles Saunders joined the Middlesex Regiment 1941 aged 18. On completing basic training he was transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment, 5th Battalion. He was on the Torch landings on the 8th of November 1942 and was wounded in the second battle at Longstop Hill in 1943. He went on to continue through the war until the end taking part in many actions and getting wounded again in Italy. He was demobbed in 1946.




Able Sea. Christopher James Saunders .     Royal Navy HMS Rosneath   from Bastion Road, Abbeywood, London

My father Christopher Saunders was discharged from HMS Rosneath on 25th of January 1946 and from the Navy on 31st of March 1946. If anyone has any knowledge of him or where else he served I would be most grateful to hear it.




CJ Saunders .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

CJ Saunders served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




DA Saunders .     British Army

DA Saunders served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




DG Saunders .     British Army

DG Saunders served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




DG Saunders .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

DG Saunders served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. Donald Frederick Saunders .     British Army Ox & Bucks Light Infantry 6th Airborne

I served in the 6th Airborne with the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry. We glided into Rainville in June 1944.




Sqd. Ldr. Ernest John Saunders DSO, DFC and Bar..     Royal Air Force VR 692 Squadron

I am looking for contacts with relatives of the late S/L Ernest John Saunders, DSO, DFC and BAR (RAFVR 108139), who flew a first tour with 40 Squadron and then a second and third tour with 692 Squadron. I am doing some researches on the 692 Squadron and would like to contact the relatives.




Frank Kitchener "Darky" Saunders .     British Army Sussex Rgt.

My grandad was in the 8th Army and fought at Tobruk, El Alamein and Monte Cassino.




Lt. Frank Phillippo Rich Saunders .     Royal Canadian Naval Voluntary Reserve HMS Sea Nymph

My father, Lt Frank Saunders RCNVR, was one of very few Canadian officers to serve in submarines of the Royal Navy. He was Torpedo Officer aboard HMS Sea Nymph when she sailed from Blyth, Northumberland, through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and all the way to Subic Bay in the Philippines. While Sea Nymph was alongside, an electrical fire broke out, but everyone survived. On 20th of June 1945, my father was transferred to HMS Rorqual as Torpedo Officer for the return trip home.




Sea. Fredrick Saunders .     Royal Navy HMS Pembroke   from Emsworth, Hampshire




Sgt. G. M. Saunders .     97 Squadron




F/O. Harold Walter Saunders MID.     Royal Canadian Air Force 435 (Chinthe) Squadron   from Ayr, Ontario

My grandfather, Harold Saunders, flew with the 435 (Chinthe) Squadron from its inception in 1943 until the squadron was dispanded after the war. He was 18 when he enlisted in 1942 and learned to fly in Ontario and Manitoba. Originally he was trained on single engines destined to be a fighter pilot. This changed when he went to England in 1943. There was a shortage of twin engine pilots and he was asked if he would be interested in flying the twins. Initially, he was not sure if he wanted to change, but eventually decided that he would.

This took him to the Burma Campaign with the 435 & 436 Squadrons. Here, he flew the famous Dakota twin engine DC3 with the 435 squadron in support of the British 14th Army, also known as the Forgotten Army. He flew numerous missions during the remainder of the war. He flew with his best friend, Flying Officer William Kyle, whose plane went down in June of 1945 over the Burmese jungles. Following the loss of F/O Kyle's plane, my grandfather was involved in several search and rescue missions which earned him the MID oak leaf. In England, he met his wife, Joyce Manning who he would bring back to Canada following the war. When the war ended, he went to Queens University and became a civil engineer.




Sgt. Harry Saunders DFM..     Royal Air Force 44 Squadron

Sgt Harry Saunders served with the Royal Air Force 44th Squadron. His Lancaster was shot down in December 1942 after a bombing raid over Munich, targeting the Nazi headquarters. Only three of the crew survived. Sgt Suanders was captured by a policeman. He and another crew member Sgt. Jimmy Goulette were taken to a Luftwaffe POW camp at Mannheim and later transferred to Dalagluft in Frankfurt.

In January 1943 they were among 743 POWs transferred to the Stalag 8b POW camp near Lamsdorf.




HW Saunders .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

HW Saunders served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




I Saunders .     British Army

I Saunders served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




J Saunders .     British Army

J Saunders served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.





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