William Edward Sanders, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

William Edward Sanders

Recipient of the Victoria Cross

Date of Birth: 07-Feb-1883

Place of Birth: Auckland, New Zealand

Date of Death: 14-Aug-1917

Profession: military personnel

Nationality: New Zealand

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

William Edward Sanders, (7 February 1883 – 14 August 1917) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Born in Auckland, Sanders took up a seafaring career in 1899.
He initially worked aboard steamships before transferring to sailing ships to enhance his career prospects.
Sanders earned a master's certificate in late 1914, following the outbreak of the First World War.
He then served aboard troopships in the Merchant Navy until April 1916, when he was commissioned in the Royal Naval Reserve.
He completed his military training in the United Kingdom, after which he served aboard Helgoland, a Q-ship that operated against German submarines.
His performance on his first two patrols earned him his own command, HMS Prize, in February 1917.
Sanders was awarded the VC for his actions while on his first patrol as captain, when Prize engaged and saw off a German U-boat that had earlier attacked and damaged his own ship.
He was killed in action during Prize's fourth patrol, when his ship was sunk by a U-boat.
His VC was presented to his father and is currently held by the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Several memorials exist to Sanders' memory, including the Sanders Cup, a sailing trophy for 14-foot (4.3 m) centerboard yachts.