Nathaniel Saunders was born in Wanstead on 19th January 1891. His mother, Elizabeth, married Henry Saunders of Wanstead in 1868. They moved to Grove Cottage, George Lane, Wanstead, with Henry employed as a coachman.
Tragedy struck this young family when Henry died in November 1878 at the age of 35. Elizabeth was pregnant at the time but the child died in infancy. By 1901, Elizabeth and ten year old Nathaniel were living at 24 Cowley Road, Wanstead. Elizabeth was working as a charwoman. In 1911, they were still living in the same house and 20 year old Nathaniel was the bread winner, being employed as a labourer and plumber.
Elizabeth’s eldest son Henry, a dairy cowman, was also living with his family in Cowley Road, as was another daughter with her family of ten children. Another of Elizabeth’s sons immigrated to Australia. Sometime after 1916, Nathaniel was conscripted and became a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery.
On 30th November 1917, Nathaniel’s unit was part of the British offensive against the German fortified defences, known as the Hindenburg Line, at Cambrai, Northern France.
Led by tanks and making innovative use of artillery, the operation achieved a short-lived breakthrough. However, in a German counter attack, Nathaniel was killed. His body was never found so he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial.
Nathaniel’s sister, Elizabeth, also lost her own son and a nephew. All three men have their names inscribed on the War Memorial, High Street Wanstead.
Research by Wanstead United Reformed Church
Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com