Charles Groves Wright Anderson
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding the 2nd/19th Battalion Australian Military Forces (NSW)
- Register No.
- 25 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel all Lieutenant-Colonels →
- Unit
- Commanding the 2nd/19th Battalion Australian Military Forces (NSW) (register: 8th Division, AIF) all 8th Division, AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 18–22 January 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 13th February 1942 on this day → all of 1942 →
- Born
- 12th February 1897 at Capetown, South Africa
- Died
- 11th November 1988 at Redhill, Canberra, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
- Medal held by
- the Australian War Memorial, Canberra,
Digest of citation
During the period 18/22 January 1942 near the Muar River, Malaya, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was in command of a small force which destroyed 10 enemy tanks and, when later they were cut off, he led his force through enemy lines to a depth of 15 miles, being attacked by air and ground forces all the way. He was again surrounded and suffered heavy casualties, and although he attempted to fight his way back through the eight miles of enemy-occupied territory, this proved impossible, and he had to destroy his equipment and work his way around the enemy. Throughout the fighting he protected his wounded and refused to leave them
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ANDERSON, Charles Groves Wright. (Reg. No. 25)
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding the 2nd/19th Battalion Australian Military Forces (NSW)
London Gazetted on 13th February 1942 VC Medal's Custodian is the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Born on 12th February 1897 at Capetown, South Africa.
Died on 11th November 1988 at Redhill, Canberra, Australia.
Memorial at Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: During the period 18/22 January 1942 near the Muar River, Malaya, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson was in command of a small force which destroyed 10 enemy tanks and, when later they were cut off, he led his force through enemy lines to a depth of 15 miles, being attacked by air and ground forces all the way. He was again surrounded and suffered heavy casualties, and although he attempted to fight his way back through the eight miles of enemy-occupied territory, this proved impossible, and he had to destroy his equipment and work his way around the enemy. Throughout the fighting he protected his wounded and refused to leave them.
Additional information.: He was also the recipient of the Military Cross (MC). He had served in the European War (WW1) with the King's African Rifles and was elected a Member of Parliament for Hume in New South Wales for two periods, one from 1949 to 1951 the other from 1955 to 1961.
Additional information
He was also the recipient of the Military Cross (MC). He had served in the European War (WW1) with the King's African Rifles and was elected a Member of Parliament for Hume in New South Wales for two periods, one from 1949 to 1951 the other from 1955 to 1961.
Australia.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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