John Leo SAUNDERS

Regimental number36843
Date of birth20 May 1892
Place of birthKohini, nr Greymouth
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLaw clerk
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 7"
Weight120 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Mary Saunders, 164 Adelaide Road, Wellington
Previous military serviceServed in D Company, 13th Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date23 September 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationLance Sergeant
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 24th Reinforcements (1st Draft), Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 81 Devon on 5 April 1917
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsTyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel No 3), nr Ieper, Belgium,
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Timothy and Kathleen Saunders, Greymouth; Wife: Mary Saunders, 17, Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 5 April 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 11 June 1917, and marched into Sling Camp, and reverted to Temporary Lance Corporal.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 11 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 6 July 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 11 August 1917, and posted to 4th Company.

Admitted to 2nd New Zealand Field Ambulance, 29 August 1917; rejoined Bn, 1 September 1917.

Reverted to the ranks at own request, 24 September 1917.

Killed in action, 12 October 1917.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 59, p. 10
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 20809732

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