George Sanders

George Sanders VC MC (8 July 1894 – 4 April 1950) 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 George Sanders was the son of Thomas and Amy Sanders. He received his education at Little Holbeck School and after completing his time there was indentured as an apprentice fitter at the nearby Airedale Foundry. Military service George enlisted for service on 9 November 1914 and was drafted as a private and later promoted to corporal to the 1/7th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own), British Army during the First World War. The Battalion went to France in April 1915 and in 1916 were to take part in the Battle of the Somme VC action On 1 July 1916 near Thiepval, France, Sanders' battalion were in reserve but late the afternoon the battalion was ordered to advance into the Schwaben Redoubt which had been captured earlier in the day and was being counter-attacked. After an advance into the enemy's trenches, 21-year old Corporal Sanders found himself isolated with a party of 30 men. For 36 hours Sanders' small force held off German attacks before being relieved and leading the 19 survivors back to the British lines.