Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

Korea (1950-1953)

Place of Enlistment

Melbourne, Victoria

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

26/01/1927

Place of Birth

Canberra ACT

Address (at enlistment)

1 Strezlecki Crecent, Narrabundah ACT

Next of Kin

Husband of Mrs. Joan Beulah Saunders and father of Ian and Philip Saunders, 1 Strezlecki Crescent, Narrabundah ACT

Burial Place

No details available

Service Number

3/400868

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

3 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment

Died 25 January 1953 aged 25 years, missing presumed killed in Korea

AWM Roll of Honour Memorial Panel 2

The Saunders family first arrived in Canberra in 1914 when Jack Saunders became General Bridges' groomsman. He left the following year but returned in 1925 to be Sir John Butters' chauffeur. John Saunders grew up at Acton and Kingston.

Saunders was killed during a raid by A Company, 3RAR on enemy lines on the night of 24/25 January 1953, the day before his 26th birthday. The Chinese detected the raid and overran the Australians. According to witnesses Saunders was unconscious and left seriously wounded by a grenade blast. The Chinese left him to die where he fell. His body has not been recovered, though it is known that the site of the raid is within the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea.

Years later his widow recalled receiving a letter from her husband on 27 January 1953. He was stationed at Panmunjon and thought that he may be posted home soon because of health problems. Only hours later she received a telegram telling her that her husband was reported missing in action on 25 January 1953. His place of burial is unknown. John Saunders also served in World War 2 (service number NX207809).

AWM Roll of Honour Database
AWM War Diaries, 3 Battalion (AWM85,4/49 - January 1953)
'Sharing my Memories of the Forgotten War - A War Widow's Story' by Joan Marryat, Queanbeyan Historical Society Newsletter, June 1996
Nominal Roll of Australian Veterans of the Korean War
The Canberra Times - 3 February 1953 (p.4), 23 October 1994, 24 May 2009
Information and image provided by Ian Saunders
Canberra Stories Group, 'Settlers Stories' (pp.71-77)