Husband of Sarah Saunders, of Tilbury, Ontario.

Arthur enlisted in the RCNVR at London, ON. in October of 1939

HMCS Fraser was originally built for the R.N. as HMS Crescent as a C-Class Destroyer. On 25 June, 1940 HMCS Fraser along with HMCS Restigouche and the British cruiser HMS Calcutta were ordered to Bourdeaua, France to help rescue an estimated 4,000 refugees trapped in the area by the advancing German forces.

Encountering rough seas and poor visibility, in the area of the Gironde River Estuary, the Captain of Fraser decided that the three ships should move closer together and ordered a turn to port in order to bring his ship behind HMS Calcutta. In doing so the two ships collided, the bow of the heavier Calcutta sliced into the side of the Fraser with such force that the lighter vessel was cut into two pieces.

The collision resulted in 45 fatalities on the Fraser and 19 on Calcutta. Ironically many of the survivors from the Fraser were later lost on 22 October, 1940 after being transferred to the destroyer HMCS Margaree which sank after colliding with the freighter Port Fairy. 7 of the 47 lost in this collision was from the RCNVR.

Age: 41, LAS – Date of Death: 25/06/1940, aboard HMCS Fraser (H 48), sunk off Bordeaux, France.

Able Seaman Saunders was the first fatality of WWII from Tilbury. The Tilbury Times of 4 July, 1940 reported his death as follows:

“TILBURY MAN KILLED WHEN FRASER SINKS”

“Arthur R. Saunders, sailor on Canadian destroyer that goes down off Bourdeaux.”

“The war was brought to Tilbury on Friday when official word was received that Arthur R. Saunders, 43 – year old, A.B.S. of HMCS Fraser, was killed in action – the first of twenty-nine men from this district who have enlisted – to meet death.”

Being the first fatality from the Tilbury area much like the attention the death of Lieutenant Richard G. Crawford in the Great War, there was a good deal of press on the loss of AB. Saunders:

“TILBURY SADDENED.”

As soon as word regarding his death was known, it spread with great rapidity throughout the town. But saddened as they were, Tiluryites were glad he died heroically and in the branch of service he admired so much.

The FRASER, one of Canada’s finest destroyers collided with another craft [HMS Calcutta] off Bordeaux while hunting down enemy craft that might have been in the vicinity. When the craft met the FRASER was cut in two.

The message received was from Naval Service Headquarters, was very brief, and was addressed to Mrs. Saunders. It read: “The Minister of National Defence deeply regrets to inform you that your husband A. R. Saunders, Able Seaman, official number V41307, has been Killed In Action.”

A member of the British Navy during the war and stationed at the Dardanelles, Turkey, Mr. Saunders enlisted in the Canadian Navy at the request of the War Department shortly after the war broke out. He formerly worked at an auto plant here.

He Enjoyed Leave.

On Tuesday of this week his wife Sarah (Tornley) received a letter from him stating that he was enjoying leave at her mother’s home in Oldham, England. The document bore a date of almost three weeks ago.

Mrs. Saunders came to Canada from England shortly after the last war. He settled in Montreal and came here about 11 years ago. He is survived by his wife, a son Norman, a daughter Edith; at home, and three brothers and a sister in England.

From Tilbury Times date unknown but likely early July 1940. JRH-GOH. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	TT4/11/92, BHC. (ST), “The Tilbury Story 1887 -1987”. Index of Overseas Deaths.
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 4. Memorial: HALIFAX MEMORIAL.

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