Lives of the First World War

Extract from above website on the life of William Anderson:- William Anderson was the eldest son of Alexander and Bella Anderson born at Dallas, Elgin, Scotland in December 1882. He was educated at Forres Academy before working at Glasgow Tramways Depot and in Elder Hospital, Govan in Glasgow.   He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment in 1905 serving in India, Egypt and South Africa before being discharged to the Reserve in 1912.   He was mobilised and sent to his old battalion in 1914, and as a Corporal travelled with the 2nd Yorkshires to Belgium to join the British Expeditionary Force. Between October and November 1914, he took part in the First Battle of Ypres.   He fought at Estaires in early 1915. 8191 Corporal William Anderson was awarded the VC for the part he played in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 12th March 1915.   He was killed on the 13th March 1915, aged 30 years, and his body was never found.   The citation for the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross was announced in The London Gazette on 22nd May 1915.   As both parents were dead, his posthumous VC was presented to his brother, Alex Anderson on 19th May 1920, in the banqueting hall at Edinburgh Castle by Lieutenant General Sir Francis Davies. Corporal Anderson's name appears on the Le Touret 'Memorial to the Missing' at Pas-de-Calais, some four miles to the north east of Bethune in France.   It is carved with those of 234 other members of the Yorkshire Regiment who have no known graves.   His VC and medals were donated to the Regiment by his brother in 1969 and are held by the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond.

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