'For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty. Field Marshal D. Haig. Commander in Chief the British Armies in France, despatch dated 9th April 1917.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 23 July 1917

'Operations Flers, Grid Trenches: 20th September to 2nd October 1916. As adjutant of the 2nd Otago Batt. Captain Saunders did very good work indeed during the above operations. Always cool, he kept Headquarters constantly informed of the situation, and when 17 out of 20 of the Officers of his Battalion had became casualties, he went about under heavy shell fire organising the work of consolidation and encouraging the men. He was of valuable assistance to his Commanding Officer and is deserving of special recognition for his work.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 4 June 1917

Regimental number	8/1005
Address	Hospital, Christchurch
Marital status	Single
Next of kin	Father, William Saunders, 4 View Street, Dunedin
Rank on embarkation	Lieutenant
Enlistment status	Volunteer
Unit name	New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Otago Infantry Battalion
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Wellington on 16 October 1914
	Members of the Otago Infantry Battalion, Main Body, left Wellington on 16 October 1914 on two ships, HMNZT 9 'Hawke's Bay' and HMNZT 5 'Ruapehu'. From the Nominal Roll it is not possible to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Medals	Mentioned in Despatches 'For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty. Field Marshal D. Haig. Commander in Chief the British Armies in France, despatch dated 9th April 1917.' Source: London Gazette Date: 23 July 1917 Distinguished Conduct Medal 'Operations Flers, Grid Trenches: 20th September to 2nd October 1916. As adjutant of the 2nd Otago Batt. Captain Saunders did very good work indeed during the above operations. Always cool, he kept Headquarters constantly informed of the situation, and when 17 out of 20 of the Officers of his Battalion had became casualties, he went about under heavy shell fire organising the work of consolidation and encouraging the men. He was of valuable assistance to his Commanding Officer and is deserving of special recognition for his work.' Source: London Gazette Date: 4 June 1917
Miscellaneous details	Nominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Infantry Batln/Main Body