Thomas Walker SANDERSON

24 September 1915

HIGH BENTHAM – Home Wounded and on Furlough

Private Walker Sanderson, of the King’s Royal Rifles, landed home on Tuesday evening from hospital for a short furlough. He was shot under the left eye, and the bullet was extracted from his neck. He is almost all right again. Private Leonard Bradshaw, of the Canadian Contingent, is also at Bentham on a six days’ leave, having had his ankle badly broken. Dr. Dow visited his home on Tuesday, preparatory to setting sail for the Dardanelles.

08 October 1915

HIGH BENTHAM – War Items

A very interesting letter has been received from Private Tom Wilcock, of the 8th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, from Alexandria, where he had been in the New Zealand Stationary Hospital suffering from shrapnel wounds in the head. He states that one day in the streets he met his cousin, Wallace Wilcock, of Low Bentham, who had been wounded in the back and arm, and he also met Private Edwin Harrison, of the King’s Own, who was also invalided, and was having a rest. Neither of the three knew the others were in Alexandria.–Private Walker Sanderson of the King’s Royal Rifles, and Private Leonard Bradshaw, of the Canadian Contingent, returned to headquarters last Saturday from a 10 days furlough after being invalided.–Corporal R. Harrison, of the R.A.M.C., has just been promoted to the rank of sergeant.

30 June 1916

LOW BENTHAM – DEATH OF A SOLDIER’S MOTHER

At Bentham, Mrs. Martha Sanderson, widow of Thomas Sanderson who died about 10 years ago, has passed away. Mrs. Sanderson had been ailing since about Christmas, but only took to her bed about five weeks ago. She was in her 53rd year. Her eldest son, Pte. Walker Sanderson, joined the King’s Royal Rifles in November 1914, and was shot through the head at Ypres in December last, but survived his wound and came home on sick leave. He is now back in the trenches. There are four other children – two boys and two girls. The deceased was highly respected in Bentham. Left a widow with five young children, she struggled bravely on against big odds. It is hoped something will be done for the little ones while the brother is fighting his country’s cause.

22 June 1917

HIGHER BENTHAM – Home on Leave

Pte. James Guy, son of Mrs. Guy, of Grove Hill, has had ten days’ leave from the trenches; Cpl. George Ammott, son of Mr. Wm. Ammott, of the Fourlands Inn, was also over on leave; Cpl. Walker Sanderson, eldest son of the late Mr. T. Sanderson, has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in the field; Pte. Percy Dixon, youngest son of Mrs. Dixon, of Low Bentham, West Yorks., is over on his last[est] leave.

06 July 1917

HIGHER BENTHAM – NEWS OF THE ‘BOYS’

Quite a number of ‘Boys’ have been home this week…

Pte. John Garnett, of the Grenadiers, is home from hospital on sick leave, as is also Pte. Walters, of the Coldstream Guards. Cpl. Walter [Walker] Sanderson, of the King’s Royal Rifles, is home from the Front on leave and wears his Military Medal ribbon, which he won about a month ago for gallantry in getting his Lewis gun into action at a tight place after one or two of his gunners were knocked out.

21 December 1917

SANDERSON – December 6th killed in action on the Western Front, Corporal Walter Sanderson, M.M., King’s Royal Rifles, formerly of Bentham.

21 December 1917

HIGH BENTHAM – MILITARY MEDALLIST KILLED

The news of the death on December 6th of Corporal Walker Sanderson, Military Medallist, King’s Royal Rifles, reached his home on Tuesday morning last, and caused widespread sympathy to be expressed for his orphan sisters and brothers who were bravely struggling to keep the old home together until his return from the war. The deceased soldier enlisted as a volunteer on the 10th November 1914 at Lancaster, and went to France early in 1915. He was shot under the right eye in the trenches on 10th June 1915 and left for dead, but an officer coming along some time after had him removed to the Field Hospital, and he made a wonderful recovery, although the bullet had gone through his head and out at the back of his neck. He was awarded the Military Medal on the 10th June last. His mother died on the 27th of that month without having seen her brave lad reach home, which he did in July for a well-earned furlough. He went back to France at the end of the month, and was again wounded on the 10th October last and only came out of hospital in November. The last letter he wrote home was dated the 1st instant, and in it he said he was just on his way to the trenches again. He was the main support of his widowed mother, and was a cotton weaver at Messrs. Pickup’s mill and was one of the smartest young men in Bentham. The following letter was received by his sister from his lieutenant on Tuesday morning:–

“Dear Madam, – I am deeply sorry to tell you your brother, Corporal Sanderson, was killed in action on the 6th instant. It may be of some consolation to you to know that although he lived for a few hours he was quite unconscious, and therefore did not suffer any pain. I can assure you he will be much missed by all of us, and that we lose a splendid N.C.O. who would have earned rapid promotion, and we can ill afford to lose such fine men. Kindly accept my sincere sympathy with you in your extremely sad loss. Yours truly, J.P. ELLEMOOR (Lieut.) Officer Commanding ‘D’ Company”

21 June 1918

HIGHER BENTHAM – Memorial Service

A memorial service was held at St. Margaret’s Church on Sunday evening. The Vicar, the Rev. G. H. C. Bartley, officiated and there was a full choir, one member, Mr. Alec Procter, being present from the Front on leave. The service was held for the late Private Lancelot Dowbiggin, Corporal Ernest Newhouse M.M., Private John Maudsley, Sergeant Walker Sanderson M.M., Private Edwin Smith, and Private Richard Wilcock Carr – six of the Bentham heroes to make the great sacrifice during the past six months. There was a large congregation, special hymns were sung and a most sympathetic sermon was delivered by the Vicar. At the close the Dead March was played by the organist, Miss. V. Stubbs.

05 July 1918

LOWER BENTHAM – HOSPITAL DAY FETE

War Medal Winners Honoured

Favoured with a beautiful day the annual open garden party in aid of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary was held on Saturday…

At 5-30 p.m. the most interesting feature of the programme took place, when the [surviving] Bentham Medallists were presented with gifts of silver cigarette cases suitably inscribed…

The late Sergeant Walker Sanderson, King’s Own R.L. Regiment [K.R.R.C.], who won the Military Medal “when his officer was killed, took charge of and led his men into action and later gave up his own life on the battle-field.” He was the eldest of five orphans. His sister accepted an enlarged picture of the late soldier.

The late Rifleman Ernest Newhouse, M.M., 1st K.R.R.C., “distinguished by conspicuous bravery in the field from November 27th to the 4th December, 1917.” Since laid down his life in France. The late soldier’s mother received an enlarged picture of him. – The presentation ended with the National Anthem.