George albert Saunders

[familyline]

Hi Jim,
I am a bit confused, the postcard picture is of George albert saunders. Do you have access to old newspapers my granddad is featured in the evening mail special dated 31 march 1997. My aunt wrote to Worcs Reg and got his war history and mailed it to my father in Perth w.a. I have a copy of a form for my granddad it has got T.F.W.M. Worc R/T.F.M. page 20 he is down as a private and was made a corporal later he was at Landrecies. As for uncle George I don't know if he was called up or enlisted and if he enlisted where he went to do so. I am a bit lost with Uncle George and his war history. Granddad and Uncle George both lived in Birmingham. I hope I have answered your questions. Thankyou
regards
lynne

[jim1]

So your Grandad can't be in the photo.
His MIC has him as an Acting Sgt.
If he was in the photo he would have stripes & you say that there are none also his cap badge isn't Worc. Regt.
So it looks like Uncle George & A.N. Other of the MGC.
I don't have access any more to old newspapers.
Looking at the service numbers I would say your George would have to one of these:
George Saunders
Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment, Machine Gun Corps 51043,149479 
George A Saunders
Machine Gun Corps 145080 
George Saunders
King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Machine Gun Corps 34892,176761

[familyline]

Hi Jim,
That's right my granddad led the charge after his officer Captain Walford was wounded They set up machine gun fire to drown the noise of tanks coming and also for covering fire.I think the photo of George albert saunders in his uniform was taken for his mom before going to war. Well the only thing I have is a picture of a badge on a cap for George albert saunders. How do you think I can check his army career.
regards
Lynne

[jim1]

about 70% of WW1 service docs. were destroyed in the blitz.
Only Pension records if he was entitled will give any more details & I can't see one of those either.

[familyline]

Hi Jim,
I went on the national archives site and saw George albert saunders no 145080 ref no 372/17/172460, they have the service medal and award rolls index there, but couldn't get into the site to see if it was my George saunders, I might be wrong but I think the records are at Kew. Do you know how I could see the records.
Thankyou
Lynne

[familyline]

Hi Jim,
 I have found a George albert saunders private s or a 54/109554 692422 corps A S C lab corps
LC/102b37 page 3722 on the bottom of the page it has 54B lab LC/6032. Could this be my George.
Regards
Lynne

[jim1]

Your George was in the MGC not the Labour Corps.
The one you have came from Walthamstow.
The medal index won't give you any additional info.
145080 Saunders received the BWM & VM which means he didn't go overseas until 1916 or later.
Out of the 3 possibles I think this is most likely to be him but there's no way of telling from his MIC.
His service no. means he was the 142,080 man to join the MGC ( the first 3000 no's went to the mechanised MGC ) so that would put his recruitment in 1917.Unfortunately so were the other 2 possibles but they were first in other Regt's. so they may have been older also they don't have the middle initial "A".

jim

[familyline]

Hi jim,
This is certainly a brick wall, how many George alberts is there. I have found another one George Albert Saunders service no 62746 1917 machine gun corps, how can I find out if this one is right. I feel like I am going round in circles. Thankyou
regards
Lynne

[jim1]

He's from Dulwich London.
Not all men had their middle names included your George might have been one of them.
The list I gave on the previous page are all the George Albert's, George A's & George Saunders that were in the MGC.
I've got it down to 3 possibles based on their service no's & then 1 based on him having the middle initial "A".
I think you will have to accept that his service docs. were one of those destroyed in the blitz & as there are no pension records all you will have is his possible MIC.
Even with his service docs. it would be difficult to find where he served as the MGC were spread out in small Coy's all along the Western Front.