A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

‘I think I told you how sixteen shells fell the other day in the midst of our platoon, burst in the ground, and apart from splashing us with mud, only wounded one man. From the shrapnel we found marbles used instead of bullets, and so it would seem they are short of material, really and truly. In the big attack the other day, there was not, from all accounts, a single case of a bayonet fight, for when our men got within twenty yards of a Hun, the rotters threw up their hands. All the damage was done from cross fire, of which no doubt the press have told you, and if they have not told you, I dare not.’

A typically modest letter home from “Bug” Saunders, dated 20 March 1915.

The rare and outstanding Great War “V.C. action” D.S.O., Vimy Ridge M.C. and Hill 70 Bar group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. L. “Bug” Saunders, 8th (90th Regiment) Battalion, Canadian Infantry: when the enemy dubbed the 8th Battalion “The Little Black Devils”, they undoubtedly had in mind the likes of 5 feet 3 inches Saunders, of whom a fellow officer stated ‘There is no braver officer in France’

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar privately engraved, ‘Amiens, Aug. 1918’; Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse privately engraved, ‘Capt. A. L. Saunders, 8/Can. Inf., 1917’; 1914-15 Star (14805 Pte. A. L. Saunders, 8/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. A. L. Saunders), the first with recessed obverse centre, otherwise generally very fine or better (5) £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 7 November 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and fine leadership. He assumed command of the Battalion under difficult circumstances, the commanding officer being killed and the Battalion having suffered heavy casualties in officers and men. In spite of adverse conditions, he pushed forward in the face of heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, and captured and consolidated the objective. His personal courage and cheerful determination were splendid examples to his men and largely contributed to the success of the operation.’

M.C. London Gazette 26 July 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great leadership and courage in withdrawing his company from an impossible situation under heavy shell fire, thereby saving many lives.’

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 18 October 1917:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack when his senior officer was killed, he took command of the line and made a success of the operation by his own personal daring and leadership. The clearness of his messages from the front line allayed all anxiety at Headquarters regarding the success of the Battalion.’

Alec Laurence Saunders was born in Kingston, Ontario. A Financial Broker by profession, he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force at Valcartier in September 1914, when, owing to his his short stature - 5 feet 3 inches - he was quickly nicknamed “Bug”.

Embarked for England, he first went out to France as a Private in the 8th Battalion in February 1915, he was wounded in the shoulder during the fighting at St. Julien on 24 April. Commissioned in the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Field that November, he attended a trench mortar course in the new year, and was attached to the 1st - and later the 2nd - Canadian Trench Mortar Battery, in which capacity he was advanced to Captain.

Rejoining the “The Little Black Devils” in February 1917, he went on to win M.Cs for the above cited deeds at Vimy Ridge and Hill 70 later in the year, following which he returned to England to attend a Senior Officers Course. Back in France by early 1918, he was advanced to Major and won his D.S.O. at Amiens that August, when he assumed command of the Battalion after the death of his C.O. - the same occasion on which two of his men were awarded the V.C.

Saunders’ remarkable wartime career - from Private to Lieutenant-Colonel - is admirably charted by accompanying copied letters he sent home from the front, together with an extensive newspaper feature, from which the following extract has been taken:

‘One foggy morning he was sent out on a reconnaissance to the German trenches [at Vimy] with another officer familiarly dubbed “Shorty”. As “Bug” and “Shorty” neared the enemy lines a steck of sunlight piercing the fog revealed the two subalterns cautiously approaching. The Germans immediately opened fire and “Shorty” was shot through the arm and chest. With characteristic fearlessness “Bug” hoisted “Shorty” to his shoulders in the face of a spirited enemy fusillade from rifles and machine-guns. He managed to trudge 150 yards across No Man’s Land into the Canadian trenches with his human burden still reposing on his shoulders. “He was unhurt. How he escaped being hit the good Lord only knows,” said his major in telling the story. “it is one of the finest and most courageous things in the history of the Battalion.” For other valorous deeds at Hill 70 Lieutenant Saunders was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross and he was also recently decorated with the Distinguished Service Order. The hair-breadth escapes he has had from death would form an exciting book in themselves and would almost lead to the conclusion he has a charmed life. His wounds have been more numerous than the two gold stripes he wears on his sleeve would indicate, and on one occasion he dumbfounded headquarters by turning up alive and well after he had been reported buried by a German “Jack Johnson”. ’

The gallant Saunders, who was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 31 December 1918 refers), latterly served in the acting rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was discharged back in Winnipeg in May 1919; sold with copied service papers, a typescript of his letters, and a copy of the above cited newspaper feature.