William Edward Sanders

Who was William Edward Sanders?

William Edward Sanders VC, DSO was a New Zealand 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.

Born in Auckland in 1883, Sanders took up a seafaring career in 1899. He initially worked aboard steamships before transferring to sailing ships working around New Zealand waters to enhance his career prospects. After the outbreak of the First World War, he earned a master's certificate in late 1914. He then served in the Merchant Navy working aboard troopships 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 the Helgoland, a Q-ship which operated against German submarines. He performed well on his first two patrols and was given his own command, HMS Prize, in February 1917. He won the Victoria Cross for his actions while on his first patrol as captain, when the Prize engaged and saw off a German U-boat which had earlier attacked and damaged his own ship. He was killed in action during the Prize's fourth patrol when his ship was sunk by a U-boat.