Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert Edward Sanders

1. Major, 1st Canadian Pioneer Battalion (Army).
2. Lieutenant-Colonel (Army).

Distinguished Service Order

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George

Previous service as specified on Sanders' attestation:

A detailed description of Lt.-Col. Sanders' military career appeared in the Vancouver Daily Sun on 07 October 1917:

LONDON, Sept. 13 -- The truism that "youth will be served" applies to the business of war as well as to sport, Lt. Col. G. E. Sanders, C.M.G., D.S.O. of Calgary, who for the past 17 months has commanded a Pioneer battalion in France, has decided to voluntarily resign his command in order to make room for a younger man. this is probably the first instance of a Canadian officer taking such a step, although we find many parallels in the Royal navy. Col. Sanders thus brings to a close an honorable military career, for he has been in uniform for close upon 35 years. Indeed, in appearance Col. Sanders is still a young man, for he has an undimmed eye and a form that is still martially erect. Col. Sanders--his fellow officers and men will always know him by that title--was brimful of military experience long before the world's horizon was blackened by the clouds of Armageddon. He was for 27 years in the "Mounties," and from 1910 to 1911 inclusive was police magistrate at Calgary. He took part in the quelling of the Northwest Rebellion in 1885, was attached to the United States Army in 1890 (when he saw fighting in one of Uncle Sam's "little wars"), and was second in command of the Canadian Mounted rifles in the South African war, where his work earned for him the D.S.O. In the present campaign his services have been recognized by the bestowal of the C.M.G., so that the gallant colonel now possesses a handsome string of war ribbons.

1st Pioneer Battalion Nominal Roll

The attestation available online for Sanders gives his next of kin as Caroline A. Sanders, Wife, 3014 Glencoe Road, Elbow, Calgary, Alberta.