SANDERS, John Richard Hector
| Service Number: | 31181 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Croydon, New South Wales, Australia, 9 July 1892 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Boilermaker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 4 October 1917, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Dec 1916: | Involvement Driver, 31181, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 1916: | Embarked Driver, 31181, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, RMS Orontes, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
John Richard Hector SANDERS (‘Dick’), (Service Number 31181, was born in Croydon, NSW, on 9th July 1892. He joined the Tramways at Eveleigh as an ‘electrical junior’ in June 1908. However, in March 1909 he transferred to the Railways and commenced an apprenticeship as a boilermaker. This expired in March 1914 and he continued as a tradesman boilermaker on a temporary basis until he was made permanent in June. In October 1916 he was granted leave to enlist in the AIF and did so in Sydney.
He was allotted initially to the 12th Reinforcements of the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column. He was embarked from Sydney in December 1916 and landed in England in February 1917. He transferred to the 36th Group Heavy Artillery and was ‘taken on strength’ by the 338th Siege Battery. He was sent with them to France in July but transferred to the 55th Siege Battery the same month and was ‘taken on strength’ by them.
He was killed in action on 4th October 1917. He ws buried in what is now called Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, near the Western gate of the old city walls.
A war pension was granted to his mother.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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