Sergeant Arthur Frederick Saunders VC (22 April 1878 – 30 July 1947) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Early life He was born on 22 April 1878 in Ipswich one of 12 children of Thomas Saunders, a saddle and harness maker, and his wife Anne Victoria Clarke. The family then lived at 180 Cauldwell Hall Road in the parish of St John's Church in Ipswich. He was baptised on 24 April. The family moved every few years and were certainly tenants, struggling to make ends meet. He attended St John's Church of England Primary School in the town then California School in Ipswich. Navy In November 1893 Arthur joined The Marine Society Training Ship Warspite, which was moored at Woolwich, and began trining for the Merchant Navy. On 25 February 1895 he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy, 2nd Class, at just under age 17. On 22 April 1896 (his 18th birthday), he signed-up for a continuous service engagement with the Royal Navy of 12 years, which he completed in 1908. He mainly served on HMS Pembroke then at the torpedo training school at HMS Vernon. During his time in the Royal Navy he served as a petty officer (2nd Class). After leaving the Royal Navy he worked for the agricultural equipment company Ransomes, Sims & Jeffries. Army Arthur joined the Territorial Army and was attached as a reserve unit attached to the Suffolk Regiment. As such, at the outbreak of war, he (and all "reservists") were required to go into full service at the onset of war. Therefore, on 19 September 1914 he officially transferred to full service in the British Army. He served in France with the 9th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, as a part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from 30 August 1915. His award came as a result of the Battle of Loos on the Western Front in September 1915. His battalion were supporting the advance of the Cameron Highlanders. He was 37 years old, and a sergeant in the 9th (Service) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 26 September 1915 near Loos, France, A statement from Lt Crispinson, an