Algernon Benjamin Sanders was born in 1884 at Burlington Terrace, 52 [now 404] Albert Street, East Melbourne. He was the third son in the large family of Lewis Sanders and his wife Miriam, nee Benjamin. The Sanders and their first child had moved into the newly built Burlington Terrace in 1867. The terrace of sixteen units became home to many leaders of the Jewish communitydue in part, no doubt, to its proximity to the synagogue. It remained the family home of the Sanders until Lewis' death in 1911.
Algernon was educated at Scotch College. On leaving school he worked initially at the firm of Stephens and Sons, drapers, and about 1902 he joined the staff of the Leviathan, the store co-founded by his father. On Lewis' death Algernon was appointed a director.
On 23 June 1915 when he enlisted Algernon described himself as a merchant tailor. He was 5ft. 7.5 ins tall, had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was appointed to the 1st Australian General Hospital, Reinforcements at Broadmeadows with the rank of private. His brother, Frederic Roy Sanders, enlisted on the same day and the two were given consecutive service numbers and appointed to the same unit.
The two brothers embarked on 11 October 1915 aboard the Nestor bound for Egypt. They marched into Tel-el-Kebir on 1 July 1916 and embarked from Alexandria on 29 July for England and then on to France on 21 August. On 18 September both brothers were transferred to the 6th Field Ambulance.
Algernon was wounded in action with a shot to the back on 11 November 1916. He rejoined his unit on 29 November. On 24 December he was admitted to hospital with bronchitis. He was invalided to England with influenza on 5 January1917 and eventually admitted to 2nd Auxillary Hospital, Southall on 23 January. He was off duty of two months and was then sent to the Australian Medical Corps Training Depot, Parkhouse on 6 April 1917. After training he was sent back to France on 14 June 1917.
He was awarded the Military Medal on 7 October 1917. His recommendation read, 'On 27/9/1917 at POLYGON WOOD near Ypres this man went out and brought in three wounded men dressed them and got them to a place of safety. This man had been on duty continuously from night 25/26-9-17. This was done under heavy shell and gunfire.'
Apart from two weeks leave in England in March 1918 he continued to serve in France until his return to England for embarkation back to Australia on 9 March 1919. He disembarked on 18 April and was discharged on 1 July 1919.
After the war Algernon resumed his duties as a director, and in 1922, on the death of Mr. N.L. Levy, the other co-founder of the Leviathan, he became managing director. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Victorian Racing Club, the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, the Victoria Golf Club and the Stock Exchange Club. He was reported to be a generaous benefactor giving many anonymous donations to a variety of causes.
He married Kathleen Joan Brett in 1925 and had two daughters. He died on 10 December 1938 after suffering a heart attack while driving his car.