BHC3145

Lieutenant William Edward Sanders, DSO, RNR (1883-1917) Long Caption: A head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, with the sitter wearing a naval cap and uniform. Sanders, born in New Zealand, was originally a merchant seaman. Within one year, during World War I, he rose from sub-lieutenant to lieutenant-commander and won both the DSO and Victoria Cross. He received his medals for skill and daring during service on HMS 'Prize', one of the 'Q' or 'mystery' ships used in this war. These three-masted topsail schooners acted as decoys to trap and sink German submarines. In August 1917 the 'Prize' was attacked by a German U-boat and badly damaged, and Sanders was killed. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, (on loan). Kindly lent by Mrs Mona McEvoy. Object: BHC3145 Artist: Ambrose McEvoy Date: circa 1918 Medium: oil on canvas Size: 505 mm x 403 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.