55513 Frederick William Saunders (1881-1918)

This coin is to commemorate my Great-Grandfather who died in the First World War and was buried in Italy. The mission for this coin is to travel to Italy (Possibly to the Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension where he is buried (Plot 1. Row C. Grave 7) - A photo at his grave would be welcome) and then return to Southborough Kent as he himself was never destined to return. Please do not keep this coin but help it along on its mission and eventual return to the Cache "Tragedy Of the Freds" once tour of duty is complete. Thank You.

This Help For Heroes GeoCoin was activated by myself for placement in my first cache hide "Tragedy Of The Freds" and commemorates my Great-Grandfather Frederick William Saunders (1881-1918). Frederick was born in Southborough near Tonbridge Kent in 1881 and in 1903 married Blanche Agnes Martinelli, the granddaughter of the maker of the now highly collectable Martinelli Barometers. Although his war service records are amongst those lost, Frederick joined the army sometime between 1916 and 1918 but sadly died of wounds on the 23 April 1918 in Italy at age 38 and is buried in the Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension War Grave site there. He left a wife and ten children (my grandfather was six at the time). Blanche, anxious to care for her family re-married but her second husband died of illness less than ten years later. The grave in Southborough cemetery for her second husband, also commemorates her first husband, Frederick, who never returned from the Great War. Frederick is listed on the War Memorial at Southborough.

Update - April 2011. I have now discovered that Frederick was hit by a shell that killed him, his platoon commander and the sargeant as they were on the Asiago Plateau and they were initially buried together at the foot of the hill before later reburial in Montecchio Precalcino. The platoon commander is in plot3 Row D Grave 8 (2nd Lt A J Orr) and the sergeant (H Dunkerly) next to Fredrick in Grave 7.

Update June 2023 - Well much like My Great-Grandfather I guess after 10 years this TB is "Missing In Action" :(