King Edward’s School and the Great War

Memorial Roll of Honour 1914 - 1918

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Sanders, George Ernest

Acting Captain ▪ 16th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

George Ernest Sanders, born on 13th April 1894, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1910, having transferred from King Edward’s Five Ways. The youngest of six children, he lived with his mother, Jane, and his father, Joseph, a fishmonger. The family lived at 90, Bristol Street, Birmingham, later moving to 102, Lordswood Road, Harborne.

George was in the Modern School, which offered a curriculum that emphasised scientific rather than classical subjects, studying French, Latin and English. Though he did not place highly in his class, his most successful subject was Latin, placing 5th in a class of 8. He does not feature in the Chronicles, though this was not uncommon amongst boys who transferred to KES from the Foundation’s Grammar schools.

George enlisted in September 1915 as a Second Lieutenant with the 17th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, serving in France. After being promoted to Lieutenant with the 15th Battalion, RWR, he went on to become Acting Captain with the 16th Battalion. He was reported missing and presumed killed on 9th October 1917 at Ypres, aged twenty-three. His body was never recovered, but he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.