Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Eustace Saunders, known as Joe, was the fourth son of Mark and Phoebe (née Taylor) Saunders. He was born on 1 September 1876 at Pleasant Point. He was educated at Pleasant Point School and spent about seven weeks at Timaru Main School in mid-1889. At the presentation of prizes to scholars of Pleasant Point School in late January 1886, Eustace Saunders was rewarded for 4th equal place in Standard II. His father served for some years on the Pleasant Point School committee and volunteered for school activities. He was the one who at the annual meeting of April 1899, “in a highly complimentary speech referred to the excellent work done by the teachers.” Later that year at the school concert, as acting chairman, he “addressed a few words of good advice to the children and parents.” He was then re-elected with the second highest number of votes. In 1902 Mr M. Saunders donated a special prize for the Pleasant Point prize distribution. Also in 1902, on the king’s coronation day, the Pleasant Point community enjoyed various celebrations – “One novelty for the Point was a cannon obtained by Mr M. Saunders, which astonished and startled the inhabitants frequently during the afternoon by its might roar.” Mr Saunders also served on the Pleasant Point Town Board. Mark Saunders senior was a rather inventive man who tried for many years to generate power from the waves at Dashing Rocks. He also applied for a patent for an improved harvesting appliance, and he devised an invention for facilitating the loading of produce at the wharf. In August 1914 he suffered a very badly mutilated hand in a serious accident on the eastern mole. He was also a good, patriotic man, interested in local affairs and contributing in 1915 to the Belgian Fund.

In June 1892, Eustace Saunders received a 1st Class prize at St Mary’s Sandietown Sunday School. Was Eustace the E. Saunders who competed with success in athletic sports, especially the 400 yards handicap events, at Temuka and Pleasant Point in the late 1890s and into 1900? In May 1900, he won 10 shillings for second place in the 400 yards handicap. On leaving school, Eustace followed the profession of tailor. By 1900 he was residing at Fairlie, where as a member of the Fairlie Patriotic Ball Committee, he and five others signed a letter to the Editor of the Timaru Herald, asking whether the proceeds of the ball held at Fairlie on 26 February had been forwarded to the editor. Had the cheque gone missing in the mail? Eustace was serving a secretary of the Fairlie Football Club in 1901. He gave a prize (pair trousers) for shooting matches fired by the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles, and continued to present a prize. In September 1901 he acted as M.C. for the dance in aid of the Library and Social Club in the Fairlie Public Hall in late September 1901, “and kept the ball rolling merrily.”

Eustace Saunders served in the 2nd Regiment 10th N.Z.M.R. in the South African War (Service No. 9449), from which he was discharged at the finish of the war and received the Imperial South African War Medal. Eustace was a tailor and was living in Fairlie when he enlisted for both the South African War and the Great War. He was 25 years old in 1902 and his next-of-kin was his father, Mark Saunders, of Pleasant Point. In May 1902, his tailoring business at Fairlie was taken over.

In January 1903, E. Saunders was appointed to a committee of management for the newly-formed Gun Club in Fairlie. It was in 1903 that Private E. Saunders competed in the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles matches, with very good scores. In March he was awarded the cup, having won it twice. On this occasion, His Excellency the Governor, who was honorary colonel of the 1st Battalion South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, presented the first aid certificates and shooting prizes. The Mackenzie Mounted Rifles provided a guard of honour on his arrival and a verse of the National Anthem was sung. Private Saunders was in the mix for the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles team to play a football match against the Fairlie Football Club in May 1903. At the military sports of the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles heled in Fairlie later in the year, E. Saunders finished 3rd of eleven starters in the 220 Yards Privates Foot Race, handicap, in full uniform.

Eustace married Esther Anna Maria Westcott (Essie) on 27 April 1904 at Moa Flat. Their son, William Peterson Saunders, was born on 11 April 1905 at Cobden, Greymouth. Yes, Eustace and Esther were at Cobden by 1905, he a tailor. They had moved to Timaru by 1908 and were at Fairlie by 1911, Eustace still a tailor. There at Fairlie, the appointment of Eustace as a vestryman at St Stephen’s Church in June 1911, marked the resumption of his community involvement. He was still serving on the vestry in 1915. E. Saunders, R.S.V.G., was appointed an officer and installed with the Oddfellows in January 1913. Bro. E. Saunders presided over the usual fortnightly meeting of the Gladstone Lodge, No. 38, I.O.O.F., in mid-August 1914, at the installation meeting in mid-January 1915, at the summoned quarterly meeting in March 1915, and at the January 1918 installation meeting. He was at the adjourned annual meeting of the Fairlie Domain Board in April 1914. The first annual meeting of the South Canterbury Ex-Contingenters Association was held in the Arcade (Timaru) on 22 May 1914, E. Saunders (Fairlie) being elected a vice-president. He was elected the Fairlie representative again in 1915. In August 1914, the ladies’ patriotic committee was busy sewing for the Fairlie men leaving for the front. Mr E. Saunders, tailor, rendered valuable assistance in cutting out garments. As of November 1911, he was a member of the Fairlie School Committee, being the secretary of the programme committee to arrange the school concert. Willie Saunders, the young son of Eustace and Esther, started at Fairlie School in August 911, with a stint at Pleasant Point soon after, then going back to Fairlie. In September 1918 he went to Waimataitai School for four years. Eustace was still a member of the Fairlie School committee in April 1915.

When Eustace’s brother Charles William Saunders enlisted for World War I on 20 October 1914 at Timaru, he nominated his older brother – Eustace Saunders, Fairlie – as next-of-kin. Charles died on 2 September 1915 in hospital in Egypt. Eustace received a telegram from the Minister of Defence advising of the death, and “Please accept my sincerest sympathy in the loss which you and New Zealand have sustained.” Mark Saunders, his youngest brother, was killed in action on 4 October 1917 in Belgium. In July 1917, E. Saunders donated to the Mackenzie Christmas Gifts Committee fund for their soldiers. Both Eustace, a married man with one child, and his brother Harry who also lived in Fairlie, a married man with five or six children, were listed on the Reserve Rolls.

Eustace Saunders, tailor, Fairlie, was called up following the ballot for Second Division Reservists of Class B (married men with one child), in April 1918. He attested on 17 May 1918 at Timaru – a married man with one child; Church of England; self-employed tailor; had served with the 10th South Africa Contingent (No. 9449), being discharged at the finish of war. His resided in School Road, Fairlie. His next-of-kin was his wife – Mrs Ester Anna Maria Saunders, P. O. Box 100, Fairlie, Canterbury, that being Eustace’s postal address. He was 5 feet 8¼ inches tall, weighed 132 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 30-33½ inches. His complexion was pale, his eyes and hair grey. His sight, hearing, colour vision heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health. He had two slight defects - overlapping left or right little toe and slight Genn Valeum. But he had had no fits, no notification for consumption, no treatment in a sanatorium or mental institution. He had been absent from work because of fracture of left forearm 33 years ago. He bore a tattoo on his left forearm and a large mole.

At the “ladies’ night” of the Fairlie Masonic Lodge in late May 1918, the Worshipful Master presented to W. Bro. E. Saunders a wristlet watch on the occasion of his going into camp, as a small recognition and memento from the brethren of his long service to Lodge Mackenzie. At the Military Appeal Board meeting at the beginning of July 1918, he said that he had his business to close up and would like an additional month’s time. He was allowed till 9 September. A member of the South Canterbury quota of the Forty-sixth Reinforcements, he left home by the north express on 9 September 1918, after parading at the Timaru Drill Hall. He entered Camp on 10 September 1918. In his two months of service in World War One, he had already been granted two periods of leave without pay (3 days and 6 days) prior to issue of Certificate of Leave. He was stated to be of good character and in good health when granted his Certificate of Leave on 29 November 1918. Thus, Eustace did not leave New Zealand.

Eustace and Esther remained at Fairlie for a few years after the war. In October 1919, when the Mackenzie Caledonian Society was revived and a sports meeting arranged, he was elected a director. In November 1920, he was nominated for the Fairlie Riding seat on the Mackenzie County Council. Eustace Saunders, of Fairlie (Canterbury) took possession of “Craigroy” property at Arrowtown on 1 September 1924. Thereafter he pursued sheep farming. By 1929 he was a member of the Lake County A. and P. Society. In that same year, Mr and Mrs Saunders spent the Easter holidays at Fairlie. In July he was acting secretary at a special meeting of members of the Wakatipu branch of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union at Arrowtown. His son who was the secretary was absent from the district at the time. The meeting had been called as a result of a letter from the Otago Provincial Council asking if the branch would contribute to the earthquake relief funds. Members considered the object a worthy one and decided to make a grant. At the North-East Valley Presbyterian Church (Dunedin), William Peterson Saunders, the only son of Mr and Mrs Eustace Saunders, Craigroy, Arrowtown, married Catherine Ellen (Ella) McMaster on 26 June 1929.

At the annual show of the Lake County A. and P. Society held in March 1930 at Lake Hayes, Eustace Saunders of “Craigroy” was successful in the guessing competition of the live weight of three fat sheep, being only ¼ pound over the correct weight. At a meeting, in October 1930, of farmers who came under the Arrow irrigation scheme, Mr Eustace Saunders proposed that a separate board, to be known as “The Arrowtown Irrigation League” be formed. The proposition was unanimously carried and his son, W. P. Saunders, was appointed to a committee. On receiving the sad news on 21 July 1931 that his brother, Harry Saunders, of Fairlie, had died in a motor car accident on the Thursday before, Mr Eustace Saunders and his son left for Fairlie. Harry Saunders, who was a married man with a large family, had the mail delivery contract between Fairlie and Haldon Station. E. Saunders was granted a slaughterhouse licence in 1931. It was recommended in April 1932 that he be granted an ordinary prospecting licence on a mining reserve at Arrow Junction. Eustace was a member of Masonic Lodge Arrow Kilwinning. At the 1934 A. and P. Show, he was placed first in the yearling filly category and second out of eight entries in the Spring-cart horse, mare or gelding, up to l0cwt, no vehicle or harness. He enjoyed success with his horses again in 1936.

By 1938, Eustace and Esther had retired to Marton. Their son, of “Craigroy”, was called to Wellington in late April 1938 owing to the illness of his father. In November 1939, they were able to travel and visit their son at “Craigroy”. Soon after they moved to Havelock North, where both died. Esther Anna Maria Saunders died suddenly on 28 January 1942, aged 66 years. Eustace (Joe) Saunders – formerly of South Canterbury and Arrowtown, Otago - died on 23 June 1956 at his Havelock North residence, aged 79 years. He was cremated at Hastings, and his ashes were interred with interred with Essie at Havelock North Cemetery. Their son William (Bill) and his wife Ella moved to Hawke’s Bay in the early 1950s. By his Will, dated 12 August 1926, Eustace left all his property to his wife and, if she should predecease him, to his son. He also appointed his wife as executrix and, in the event on her death, his son. Probate was granted to William Peterson Saunders, who had seen his father die and testified to his mother’s earlier death.

Eustace was a brother of Charles William Saunders who died of disease 1915, and of Mark Saunders who was killed in action in 1917. Albert Edward Bennett Saunders, a nephew of Eustace, Charles and Mark, was killed in action in 1917 in Belgium. And two cousins, Alfred Saunders (married to Alice, a sister of Eustace) and William Saunders, also served in World War One. Mrs Phoebe Saunders, who spent much of her married life in the Pleasant Point district, died there on 9 January 1927, aged 78 years, and was buried at the local cemetery. The Timaru Herald of 3 March 1928 carried this report – “Throughout South Canterbury, residents will regret to learn of the illness of Mr Mark Saunders, who was admitted to the public hospital a few days ago, in a very low condition. Mr Saunders, who is 84 years of age, has devoted most of his life to efforts to obtain energy from the waters of the sea, his work at Dashing Rocks, and later on the Evans Extension having aroused considerable interest. On inquiry at the hospital last evening, it was learned that Mr Saunders’s condition was unchanged, but he was slightly brighter.” This well-known, optimistic, kindly, popular, devout man who, sadly, failed to accomplish his ideals, died on 4 March at the Timaru Public Hospital. On 30 August 1923, Mark Saunders had written one of his classic letters to the Editor of the Timaru Herald – Sir, —For forty-six years on end, a section of the public hare looked “with eyes of iron” on my inventive efforts. And for the last twenty years acid has been added, making my life the reverse of heaven. Is this British fair-play? But two friends are in sight, namely, longer days and warmer weather. Then we shall soon see where folly lies, or where common-sense has been buried for decades. “Oh Britain, land of skill, With all thy faults, I love thee still.” I am, etc., . . .

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [22 October 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5515 0004953) [25 October 2013]; Havelock North Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records microfiche collection) [April 2014], Hastings District Council Cemetery Database (Havelock North Cemetery) [07 May 2014]; Eustace Saunders, NZ History (www.nzhistory.net.nz/soldier) [22 October 2013]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2014; 12 June 2023]; Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [21 June 2014]; Timaru Herald, 25 June 1956, 31 January 1942, 2 February 1942 (Timaru District Library) [20 June 2014; 02 March 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [21 June 2014; 12 June 2023]; South Canterbury Times, 1 February 1886, 30 April 1901, 3 May 1901, Timaru Herald, 30 June 1892, 25 May 1900, 11 & 15 August 1900, 30 September 1901, 7 December 1901, 22 January 1903, 6 February 1903, 9 & 21 March 1903, 27 April 1903, 26 May 1903, 10 November 1903, 19 June 1911, 21 January 1913, 13 April 1914, 23 May 1914, 18 & 25 August 1914, 15 September 1914, 27 November 1914, 16 January 1915, 31 March 1915, 16 & 27 April 1915, 21 May 1915, 11 August 1915, 2 August 1917, 22 January 1918, 25 April 1918, 5 July 1918, 2 & 7 September 1918, 9 October 1919, 9 November 1920, Lake County Press, 24 July 1924, Lake Wakatip Mail, 2 & 30 April 1929, 16 July 1929, 25 March 1930, 1 April 1930, 14 October 1930, 21 July 1931, 31 July 1931, 19 April 1932, 23 January 1934, 20 March 1934, 17 March 1936, 3 May 1938, 21 November 1939, Otago Witness, 16 July 1929, Otago Daily Times, 2 April 1931, 6 February 1942 (Papers Past) [24 May 2015; 17 December 2015; 27 November 2016; 07 September 2021; 11 & 12 June 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS