The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915.

Found guilty, 29 January 1916, of being late for guard mounting parade: awarded 4 hours' pack drill.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Killed in action, 20 July 1916.

In a letter written to Base Records in 1916 about some of the personal effects of Private Anderson, the solicitor R.H. Levien stated on behalf of the foster mother, Mrs Margaret Windsor, that ' ... she [Margaret Windsor] received a letter, some months back, from two of his comrades intimating that they had buried him [Private Anderson] and taken articles from clothes and that they would be forwarded to her through your Department [Base Records].' However a letter written by the Commanding Officer of the Australian Graves Services, 9 December 1921, noted, 'Although exhaustive searches and investigations have been made with the object of locating the grave of the above named [Private Anderson], it has not been possible either to locate actual burial place or obtain any information which might indicate his probable original or present resting place. Therefore this office's records in connection with that late member of the A.I.F. are being marked "No trace on research." Similar action has been taken by the Imperial War Graves Commission, London. For your information and notation, please. Battalion Reports show that the above-named deceased soldier was buried in Rue Petillon Military Cemetary, but no justification for that report can now be found.'

Red Cross File No 90903 has statement by 106 Pte E. BECK, 30th Bn (patient at Crother's Hospital, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells), 20 October 1916: Informant states that on 20th July 1916 at Fleurbaix we were digging a communication trench from our front line to the German front line when Anderson was hit by a piece of shell. Informant and [149] T. Dodds went out to get Anderson but the fire was too heavy. Dodds gave him water and he was left lying on No Man's Land. He was badly hit and informant says he was dying then.'

Second statement, 1043 Pte P.S. BAILLIE, 16 November 1916: 'We were digging in a sap at Fromelles, when we found him about half way across lying moaning. Tom Dodds (149) and I carried him into the sap, where we had to leave him, as we were under heavy shell fire at the time. I have no doubt he died.'

Third statement, 265 Pte J.E. PENROSE, 16 November 1916: 'I, with others, were (sic) brining in the wounded, when we found Anderson lying dead in sap.'

Fourth statement, 2020 Pte R. DUNCAN, 30 November 1916: 'I last saw him on night of July 19-20th, about midnight in Nomansland (sic), Fleur Baix. He was lying on ground severely wounded, probably by shell in side. Two men offered to move him. He said it was no use: dying on the way [last four words crossed through].

Fifth statement, 1567 Sergeant F.W. HUGHES (patient, 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, England): 'Anderson was killed and was lying in No Man's Land, and I can say with almost certainty that he was not brought in. The Germans having found the range made it impossible to get him in.'

Sixth statement, 1125 Pte W.M. PERRY, 4 December 1916: 'He was on the left flank and engaged at putting a connecting trench from our front line to the German trench we has (sic) recently taken. He saw the equipment of a comrade, who was wounded, catch fire and while in the act of removing it he was killed by M.G. fire ... '

Seventh statement, 287 Corporal H.W. SCOTT (patient, No 1 Canadian General Hospital), 9 December 1916: 'Tommy Dodds and Lt. Cadden saw him lying out wounded by a bullet, and crawled out to bring him into the trench which we were digging. But we were forced to retire, and they had to leave him. They told me about it afterwards. It was dark at the time. He appeared to be wounded in the stomach.'

Eighth statement, 1302 Corporal A.J. LANGBEIN (patient, Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester, England): 'Informant states that on July 19/16 about 8 [?] p.m. at Fromelles Anderson was shot in the groin and died in No Man's Land within a quarter on an hour, it was impossible to render assistance at the time. The following night many were hastily buried in shell holes but many are lying there to this day. My informant cannot say whether Anderson was buried.'

Ninth statement, 1075 Pte V.T. GLADSTONE (patient, HS 'Brighton', Calais), 13 December 1916: 'Corporal Penrose No. 265 of A Co. lately wounded and at Etaples (now back with the regiment) saw his body in "No Man's Land". Penrose was one of the search party. The body was left out.'

Tenth statement, 149 Pte T. DOBBS: 'He was one of my dearest pals and we were working side by side digging a communication trench, when he was badly hit in the stomach and legs by a machine gun. He passed away by day-break the next morning and I was the last to see him. Pte ANDERSON was about 5 ft. 7 ins. in height, slightly built and a very dark complexion. Having moved about in the society for a number of years as I have, it is almost impossible that it should be a case of mistaken identity.'`Further five statements on Red Cross file, all saying that the body was not brought in.

Identity disc arrived Sydney on board HT 'Marathon', 8 February 1918.

Surname on Memorial Plaque incorrectly inscribed as 'ANDERSEN'.