Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of Herbert Saunders

Casualty Card – Lieutenant Herbert Clement Saunders, M.M. was serving with the 46th Squadron of the Royal Air Force when he was killed in action at approximately 11:50 am on 18 September 1918. He was on an Offensive Patrol east of Hesbecourt, France when he was seen shot down in flames at 5,000 feet, during aerial combat with the enemy. He was piloting a single seater Sopwith Camel D9405. Records indicate that he was shot down by German Lt. S. Garsztka of Ja31.

Document – Lieutenant Herbert Clement Saunders, M.M. was seconded to the Royal Air Force from the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 11 March 1918. He transferred to the operational 46th Squadron on 24 August 1918. He was reported missing less than a month later on 18 September 1918.

Burial Document – Lieutenant Herbert Clement Saunders, M.M. is the sole Canadian buried in the Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery located at 62c.L.3.c.60.85 (GPS: 49.9631, 3.1575). His remains were exhumed from a battlefield burial site at 62c.F.22.a.10.36 (GPS: 49.9817, 3.1666.) by the 83rd Labour Company on or about 2 August 1919. He is buried in Plot 2 Row C Grave 36.

Document – The CWGC Headstone Schedule 2746425 records that Lt. Saunders was with the British Columbia Regiment and was attached to the Royal Air Force.

Document – Lt. Saunders Canadian Service Record shows that he was formerly with the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada when he attested to the 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion #629336 on 28 June 1915.

Document – Lt. Saunders was serving in the capacity of a Sergeant of the 47th Infantry Battalion, 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division when he was diagnosed with influenza and exhaustion on 22 November 1916. The 47th Battalion would have just come off the front lines in the Battle of Ancre Heights during the final days of the Somme Offensive, in the vicinity of Courcelette. He did not return to active service until 5 June 1917.