Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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218018
Pte. Abner Edwin Sanders
British Army 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
from:Belper, Milford
(d.1st Nov 1914)
Abner Edwin Sanders enlisted on Tuesday 23rd Feb 1904 at Normanton Barracks, Derby. (7 years with colours, 5 years in reserve). He embarked from Southampton on 13th August 1914. On Wednesday 14th October 1914 he was shot in the side of the head during battle of La Bassee around Bout del Ville (Rue Mathieu). He died of wounds at The Connaught Military Hospital, Aldershot on Sunday 1st November 1914 and was buried at Alfreton Military Cemetary. He is commemorated at Alfreton War Memorial, Milford War and Memorial, St Peters Marble Memorial Belper.
The Derbyshire Times of Saturday 31st October 1914 reported:
Milford Soldier Dangerously Wounded.
Private Abner Sanders of the Northumberland Fusiliers of
Hopping Hill, Milford, a son of Mr and Mrs Ernest Sanders of Nottingham Rd Belper, now lies at Aldershot in a dangerous condition. He was engaged in the battle of La Bassee Canal and received a terrible wound in the right side of the head. Sanders underwent an operation at Aldershot, but has only been conscious at intervals since. His wife visited him on Tuesday week and has remained near ever since. In response to an urgent telegram
stating “No hope of recovery†his father went to Aldershot on Tuesday morning. Private Sanders has two little children, the youngest being under twelve months old.
Alfreton Journal on Thursday 5th November 1914 reported:
For the young widow, Mrs Sanders, of Hopping Hill, Millford, who is left with two young children, our heartfelt sympathy rests. A bullet received in the head while fighting for his King and Country has proved fatal to her husband, and brought sorrow into the home, as well as to many friends of the deceased. The parents of this brave young fellow reside on the Nottingham Road, Belper, and are much respected. The young wife visited her husband in hospital, but he only had periods of conciousness. Friends have been kind, but none can replace the loss of husband and father to this bereaved widow.