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Anderson, Robert Franklin
Some Information on the Anderson Brothers in World War I
They were the sons of Edward Robert Anderson [1854 to 1926] and Mary Jane Manson [1861 to 1920]. There were four sons and 5 daughters in the family – the eldest son William Manson Anderson died in Melbourne in 1907 purportedly of heatstroke. 1. David Athol Anderson – [1 Sep 1891 to 3 May 1977]. Enlisted in the Army on 18 February 1916 in the 40th Battalion [Army Record No 331]. He embarked from Australia on 1 July 1916 and served on the Western Front until the end of World War I being wounded in action. World War II – enlisted on 2 July 1940 Army Record No V 42467 in the 52nd Battalion and giving his birth year as 1900 so reducing his age by 9 years. There is another form in his records indicating him trying to join on 2 February 1939 joining the 14th Infantry but giving his birthday as 1 September 1897 not 1891. He was discharged from the Army on 4 March 1943.
2. Hazel Erskine Anderson – [26 September 1893 to 25 September 1950]. Enlisted 3 March 1915 – Army Record No 998. Embarked 29 June 1915. Served in Gallipoli and the Western Front. Wounded in Action in both venues. Served in the 26th Battalion – the same as his brother Robert Franklin. 3. Robert Franklin Anderson – [20 May 1898 to 18 July 1918] Enlisted in the Army on 21 June 1915 giving his name as Franklin only. Army Record No A 2328. He joined the 27th Battalion and embarked from Australia on 21 September 1915 going first to Egypt and then joined the British Expeditionary Force on 15 February 1916 and went onto France. He was transferred to the 26th Battalion in April 1916. He was wounded in Action on 3 occasions and Killed in Action on 18 July 1918 near Villers Bretonneux. As best as I can work out he was killed in one of two actions: The Battalion Diary for 17 July 1918 states the following: At about 2.55 am an enemy party of approximately 24 men divided into 3 assaulting parties attempted to raid B Coy post on the right of the road. Two of the parties were driven off with casualties to the enemy but the third party got behind the post and got close enough to bomb the post before being observed. Before they could be driven off they succeeded in throwing a hand grenade with guncotton attachment into the trench killing two men and wounding one. There is no names to those killed. The Diary for the 18th does not show anyone being killed. However there is a report dated the 18th of July by the Acting Battalion Commander, Major J.A Robinson on action on the 17th of July of an Operation to attack and take from U.6 central to the Railway bridge. The casualties of the attack were 1 officer and 7 soldiers killed. He initially was buried at Crucifix Cemetery but something happened and now he is listed on the Memorial at Villers Bretonneux. He is also listed in the Australian War Memorial Mr. Edward R. Anderson, of Scottsdale, who a few years ago resided At Ulverstone, has received word that the youngest of his four soldier sons was killed last month. No particulars have come through telling how Franklin Anderson met his death. The deceased enlisted when he was 17 years of age, and had been three years at the war. Two of Mr. Anderson's other sons have been severely wounded. Both these soldiers are married men. At present their mother is ill in Launceston Hospital. The North Western Advocate 21st August 1918 Thank you to Tom Anderson for the above information
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Three
brothers, David Athol Anderson, Hazel Erskine Anderson
and Robert Franklin Anderson served in World War I in
the Australian Army.