Pte 37251 James Sanderson

• Age: 28
• From: Southport, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 23rd October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thistle Dump Cem, Longueval
  Panel Ref: E.17

James Sanderson was born in the third quarter of 1888 in Southport and he was baptised on the 05^th August, 1888 in St Peter’s C. of E. Church, Birkdale. He was the son of Isaac Sanderson and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Cronkshaw) who had married in 1881 at Chorlton-on-Medlock Registry Office.  

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 12 Chatham Road, Birkdale, Southport. His father Isaac is aged 43, born in Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumberland and is a Blacksmith. His mother, Sarah Ann, is aged 37, born in Manchester. They have five children resident with them, who were all born in Birkdale and are listed as; Ann, aged 8, a scholar, Kate, aged 7, a scholar, John aged 5, a scholar, James aged 2. Isaac's widowed father, aged 80, a retired blacksmith is also with them. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 93 Eastbourne Road, Birkdale, Southport. His father Isaac is aged 53, born in Stretton, Cumberland in 1848 and is a Blacksmith His mother, Sarah Ann, is aged 47, born 1854 in Manchester. They have six children who were all born in Birkdale, Kate, a dressmaker aged 17, Ann aged 15, also a dressmaker, John is the twin brother of Ann and is employed as an Grocer’s Errand Boy, James aged 12, born 1889 is a Errand Boy (linen and Draper), Charles aged 9, born 1892 and Sarah Jane aged 7, born 1894 are of school age.

The family are still living at 93 Eastbourne Road at the time of the 1911 Census but James is not present in the household. His siblings; Ann, Catherine, John, Charles and Sarah Jane are declared as living at the property.  

He enlisted in Southport and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 37251 when he died of wounds on the 23rd October 1916 aged 28 following the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

James now rests at Thistle Dump Cemetery, High Wood Longueval, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE WORE THE WHITE FLOWER OF A BLAMELESS LIFE"

Thistle Dump Cemetery was begun in August 1916 and used as a front line cemetery until February 1917. It was later increased after the Armistice by the concentration of 56 graves from the Somme battlefields. There are now 196 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 59 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to four casualties known to be buried among them. The cemetery also contains seven German war graves. High Wood was fiercely fought over during the Battle of the Somme until cleared by 47th (London) Division on 15 September 1916. It was lost during the German advance of April 1918, but retaken the following August. 

His death was reported in the Southport Visiter dated 23rd November 1916:

"News was received from a comrade to the effect that Pte Sanderson was struck by a shell on leaving the trenches, and died in a field hospital the following day. Pte Sanderson was 26 years of age and a joiner by trade. He joined the colours in April 1916. His younger brother Dvr Charles Sanderson of the A.S.C. M.T. died in hospital in London. The remaining eldest son John, served with the anti aircraft section in France."

Soldiers effects to his mother Sarah Ann and pension of James and Charles to both parents.

His brother Charles died on the 01st December, 1915 aged 24 whilst serving with the Royal Army Service Corps and is buried in Duke Street Cemetery, Southport.

James is commemorated on the Southport Civic Memorial.

His mother died in the December quarter of 1927, aged 72.

His father died in the September quarter of 1939, aged 91.

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