Jim Anderson
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | Not known |
| Place of Birth | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Death | 5 Mar 1917 |
| Place of Death | Trones Wood, Guillemont, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 39 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'9" (1.75m) tall ; 170lbs 77.111 kg ; ruddy complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Shed hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | NOK Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother , Mrs Edith Ellen Anderson |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2366 |
| Date of Enlistment | 31 Mar 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 51st Battalion, 5th Reinforcement, transferred to 32nd Battalion |
| Date of Embarkation | 20 Sep 1916 ‒ 15 Nov 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A66 Uganda |
| Fate | Killed in Action 5 Mar 1917 |
| Monument |
Gosnells War Memorial Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
War Service
Following basic training in Western Australia, Jim was allocated to the 5th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion and travelled with them to England aboard HMAT A66 Uganda departing Fremantle on 20 Sep 1916 and arriving on 15 Nov 1916.
On arrival in England he spent the bar minimum time in training before proceeding overseas through Folkestone to France on 28 Dec 1916 aboard HMT Princesse Clementine. While attached to the 4th Australian Base Depot in Étaples he was admitted to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers from 6-9 Jan 1917.
On 24 Feb 1917 he was taken on strength by the 32nd Battalion. On 5 Mar 1917 the 32nd Battalion was holding the line near Trones Wood, west of Guillemont, north of the Somme River. They had been sporadically shelled all day by the enemy, and endured an intense bombardment that lasted for an hour during twilight. As there is no known grave for Jim it is reasonable to conclude that he was a victim of the enemy shelling, with the unit's War Diary making no other mention of hostile enemy action for that day.
Notes
One of several options to match the Gosnells War Memorial and Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll entries. The others being 1001 WO2 James Anderson MSM of Fremantle; 3006 Sgt John Thomas Anderson of Welshpool; and 323 Joseph Anderson of Fremantle (sailor).