226716 Pte. George Saunders British Army 2nd Btn. South Lancashire Regiment from:Bexley, Kent My grandfather George had a short war. He was there where the first shots were fired at Mons and in the next three weeks fought in five named battles, during which his regiment lost half its men to death or wounds. George was badly wounded, pulled from a pile of dead bodies and sent home.
His death certificate in 1968 refers to after-effects of his wounds, which he endured for 54 years.
Despite its being only 13 miles from London, George was born and brought up in Old Bexley village, which was rural in those days. My mother says he joined the army, aged 17 in 1908 as a regular, to get away from a house full of women.
Curiously, he enlisted in the 2nd South Lancashire regiment, who were based in Tidworth and recruiting in London.
War was declared on 4 August 1914, his regiment was mobilised and 27 officers and 980 men left Southampton for France ten days later. On 22 August they arrived at Mons (battle honour) and that afternoon commenced in action for 36 hours. On 24/25th they were in the fighting retreat (battle honour) and on 26th they stood firm at le Cateau (battle honour) which allowed the other allied units to escape and regroup.
2nd South Lancashires were widely scattered and down to 500 men. They had marched 200 miles, much of which was in battle. Continuing their march they were in the Battle of the Marne (battle honour)on 6 to 8 September. From 10th to 12th they turned and were in pursuit of the Germans who were in retreat, having outrun their supply lines.
The Germans entrenched north of the river Aisne and on 15th September, four weeks after arriving in France and three weeks since Mons, 2 South Lancashires gained their fifth battle honour for the first Battle of the Aisne. It was there that my grandfather was wounded.
The battalion was 'withdrawn to safety' on 21st September, having been in almost continuous action for 31 days.
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