Pte 202839 Henry James Sanderson

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 27th October 1917
• Commemorated at: Kemmel Chateau Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: F.7

Henry James Sanderson was born 19^th December 1897 at Liverpool and was baptised on 2^nd January 1898 at St Peter’s C. of E. Church, Liverpool. He was the son of William Ellison and Kate Sanderson (nee Anders) who had married at St Peter's Church, Liverpool in 1894.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 5 Myers St, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Henry's father William E. is aged 35, and is a french polisher, mother Kate is 24, children Thomas P. 11, William E. 4, Henry 3 (all born Liverpool). They have a boarder Maria Huster aged 58, a tailoress. 

His father died in 1901.

Kate was to marry Siverin Gabrielson on 27^th September 1903 at St Peter’s C. of E. Church, Liverpool following the death of her husband in 1901. Her second husband Siverin died in 1910.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 2 Collingwood Place Kinglake Street, Liverpool. His mother Kate is a widow aged 45, born in West Derby in 1866 and is a domestic charwoman. She was living with her three sons William aged 14, born 1897 a bakers errand boy, Henry 12, and Thomas aged 10, born 1901 are both at school. They have a boarder Ellen Woods aged 20, born 1891 a waitress in a café living at the address.

Henry enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 202839 when he was killed in action on the 27th October, 1917, aged 19, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Henry James now rests at  Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year, but in the interval it was badly shelled and the old chateau destroyed. There are now 1,135 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and 21 from the Second World War (which all date from the Allied withdrawal ahead of the German advance of May 1940). The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Henry was reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List on 04th December 1917.

He is also remembered at St Mary’s C. of E. Church, Edge Hill.

His mother went on to marry Joseph J. Dobb in 1918

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Kate Dobb. 

She died in the September quarter of 1952, aged 85.

We currently have no further information on Henry James Sanderson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.