Page 45 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side v1

Over two week’s later the dreaded letter from the War office was received at Sidcup Post Office, and
delivered immediately to Manor Cottages, where Mrs Saunders and her six young children learned of
their tragic loss. Like thousands of widows across the United Kingdom and the Empire, she had to
bear the news stoically but would have been desperately worried as to how she was ever going to
manage financially. The letter read:

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“2 March 1917 It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has this day been received from the
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War Office notifying the death of 11614 L/Sgt James Henry Saunders, R.W. Kent, 10 Battalion, which
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occurred at BEF, France on 12 day of February 1917, and I am to express to you the sympathy and regret
of the Army Council at your loss. The cause of death was “killed in action”.

If any articles of private property left by the deceased are found, they will be forwarded to this Office, but
some time will probably elapse before their receipt, and when received, they cannot be disposed of until
authority is received from the War Office.
I am, Madam, your obedient servant.”

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More than six months later, from 4 September, 1917, Alice Saunders was granted a pension of 35/-
(£1.75) per week.

In memoriam: Buried at Dickesbusch New Military Cemetery, Leper, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The grave is marked with a white wooden cross with James Saunders' details engraved.

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Private Alfred John TAYLOR, 1 Battalion, East Surrey Regiment
1890- 1st December 1914

Alfred Taylor grew up at Honeyden Lodge where his father was the coachman and later a gardener for
Loring Hall in North Cray. On leaving school he found employment as a gardener but at the very
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young age of 18 he joined the regular army being assigned to the 1 Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.
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His brother, Charles, was also a regular soldier with the 2 Battalion, East Surrey Regiment.

After five years Alfred left the Army and in 1912 returned to his home at Watercress Cottages. He then
joined the Metropolitan Police Force and remained an Army reservist but when war broke out he was
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one of the first to be called up. The 1 Battalion, East Surrey Regiment immediately proceeded to
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France landing at Le Havre on 15 August.

They were in action in Belgium at the Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat and by December 1914
the 1st Battalion was at Willingham and St. Jans Cappel. The very strict discipline of the Army dictated
that each Battalion should keep a War diary, recording events on a daily basis.

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According to the East Surrey Regiment’s War Diary of 1 December 1914 it was a quiet day and a wet
night. At 8pm the Company assembled at Neuve Eglise. At 10pm hot soup was served to the men
prior to their moving off to billets at St. Jans Cappel which was reached at 1.30am.

Total casualties: 1 other rank killed.
Private Alfred Taylor was their only casualty on that day, presumably killed by sniper fire.

In Memoriam No known grave. Remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.