Frederick Mark Roger Sander 1904-1978

Born 25/7/1904. Died Hammersmith Mar 1978 No probate- this ODD

Many details of his life obtained from Conrad's memoirs.

1904. Frederick Mark Roger Sander was born to Conrad Fearnley Sander & Marguerite Autrand in Bruges . Frederick was Conrad's father; Mark was Marguerite's father; & they both liked the name Roger - Conrad's Memoirs

1905. His protestant mother died on 25/11/1906, due to a failed operation after a miscarriage

1907. His father married a fervent Roman Catholic. Then he acquired 4 more half brothers and a half sister, born 1907 to 1914

His parents, and grandparents were running the St Andre Orchid Nursery, just ouside the town, there, but the family also had a successful nursery in St Albans

1914. The family, who were British Nationals, were ordered to leave Bruges when the Germans took it by force in 1914. Roger's uncle, Louis Lohman Sander 1877, managed to stay for a short period. A fascinating letter exists from Arthur Gilbert, then about 60, to grandfather, H Frederich Sander 1847, about the conditions in Bruges during the last months of 1914.

Upon their return to England, the family soon settled in Chiswick( a free cottage as they were Belgian refugees) . They likely returned to Bruges late 1919.

Photos of Roger with his siblings

Roger went to St Albans School (& not to the Xaverian Mayfield College, Kent, which his 4 younger half brothers attended): his father had promised his dying wife in 1905 that he would bring their 4 children up rigorously in her creed.

~1919. He was educated post war at the Royal Athenee in Bruges.

~1926. Conrad's brothers insisted that Roger enter the business, as they needed another helpful hand in Bruges, instead of becoming a farmer. He brought youth & enthusiasm & new ideas into the business, and he became indispensable - Conrad's memoirs.

1933 Frederick Mark Roger Sander married Joan A Delmas, an anglo indian , Marylebone Jun 1933. Children : John , Rosemary & Anne .Births almost certainly outside England . Joan was the daughter of a friend of Roger's father, Conrad, in post war Bruges . They seemingly lived for many years in Battlefield Road, St Albans.

He became an understudy to his Uncle Louis , who he could replace in his well defined work in almost any occasion

He laid down a hard tennis court and often played 12-1 with his father, Conrad, before lunch from 1-2.

Louis & Conrad had sold the land leading to the nurseries in 1920 and houses were built in this avenue - the Avenie Friedrich Sander : Louis & family had bought one of these and now - must have been ~1935 - the firm rented one for Roger who had married & had 2 small children

fred-street

Roger and family were on the last boat leaving Ostende in 1940. He became a Squadron Leader in the RAF . Roger's car was found returned to his garage in Bruges in 1944/45.

5/5/1940 Pilot Officer on probation . 1942, Station Intelligence Officer RAF Chivenor - London Gazette

Roger, David and Conrad’s youngest daughter Mary all joined the RAF.

Roger and David both used their linguistic skills in the intelligence service, Roger in Coastal Command and David working with Enigma, attached to the Royal Navy on the Arctic Convoys. Mary was involved in photo reconnaissance.

 

Roger was responsible for Bruges, but lived in St Albans!

In the 1957 Liquidation, Roger got the priceless orchid stock and some property, but managed to go bankrupt during his lifetime

I think Roger was the main beneficiary at Watford liquidation 1957 and one of his daughters (Anne) still lives in one of the cottages. Anne's mother lived there also after Roger's death- no death for her bmd up to end 1992. Cannot find one on Ancestry either up to 2007 . She was anglo-indian and I think was not well received as she should have been in the Sander Family.

As he had this property in Watford, there should have been Probate - but none exists

Roger had a son John, who had a son Justin - Zambia

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