William Herbert Anderson
A/ Lieutenant Colonel, C.O. of 12th (S) Battalion The Highland Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 29 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- A/ Lieutenant Colonel (register: Acting Lieutenant Colonel) all Lieutenant-Colonels →
- Unit
- C.O. of 12th (S) Battalion The Highland Light Infantry all Highland Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 3rd May 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- the 29th December 1881 at Glasgow, Scotland
- Died
- the 25th March 1918 near Maricourt, France. (Killed in
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- grave in Peronne Road Cemetery in France
Digest of citation
On 25 March 1918 at Bois Favieres, near Maricourt, France, when the enemy attack had penetrated a wood on the right of his line and there was great danger that the flank of the whole position would be turned. Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson gathered together the remainder of his two companies, counter-attacked and drove the Germans from the wood, capturing 12 machine-guns and 70 prisoners. Later, the same day, Colonel Anderson led another counter-attack which resulted in the enemy being driven from his position, but the colonel Died on fighting within the enemy's lines. More information available
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ANDERSON, William Herbert. (Reg. No. 29)
A/Lieutenant Colonel C.O. of 12th (S) Battalion The Highland Light Infantry. .
London Gazetted on 3rd May 1918 Born on the 29th December 1881 at Glasgow, Scotland.
Died on the 25th March 1918 near Maricourt, France. (Killed in action).
Memorial at grave in Peronne Road Cemetery in France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 25 March 1918 at Bois Favieres, near Maricourt, France, when the enemy attack had penetrated a wood on the right of his line and there was great danger that the flank of the whole position would be turned. Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson gathered together the remainder of his two companies, counter-attacked and drove the Germans from the wood, capturing 12 machine-guns and 70 prisoners. Later, the same day, Colonel Anderson led another counter-attack which resulted in the enemy being driven from his position, but the colonel Died on fighting within the enemy's lines. More information available.
action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Peronne Road Cemetery in France
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