Name
Alfred Anderson
8/08/1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/10/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
512188
London Regiment (London Scottish)
2nd/14th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DERRY HOUSE CEMETERY NO.2
I. F. 2.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone
UK & Other Memorials
St Thomas' Mission Hall, Green Tye, St Thomas' Church Memorial, Perry Green, Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross, New Barnet War Memorial, East Barnet War Memorial, Not on the High Cross memorials
Pre War
Alfred Anderson was born on 8 August 1897, in High Cross, Herts, son of James Anderson a Coal Merchant and Alice (nee Taylor) Anderson. One of eight children.
Baptised on 19 September 1897, at Saint John’s Church, High Cross, Herts.
1901 Census records Alfred aged 3, living with his parents and 6 siblings in, High Cross, Herts. His father was working as a Coal Merchant.
By 1911 the family had moved and were living at “The Bakery”, 1 Jubilee Terrace, Church Hill Road, New Barnet, Herts. His father was recorded as a Master Baker and running his own family Bakery Business in East Barnet.
Before enlisting he worked for Messrs. Vickers Ltd, Westminster.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in London in December 1915 and was formerly 5941 London Regiment. He went to France in 1916, served in Salonica and Egypt for 18 months and returned to France in July 1918.
In France he was in hospital for some weeks suffering with malaria, before returning home on leave in September, only returning to France about two weeks before his death.
In 1916 he served in Egypt, but by 1918 had returned to Europe and was in Belgium when he was killed. London Scottish Unit History Extracts - 14th October 1918: “The assault was timed for 5.35am, and the smoke shells fired gave some degree of protection to the advancing infantry. The German outposts, demoralised and dazed by the intensity of the barrage, capitulated at once, but the machine-gunners behind them showed more spirit and began to cause serious casualties. By 7.35am their objective had been attained. Suddenly a light wind lifted the smoke and the Scottish, by now digging in, became easy targets for the Germans who had retired to a hedgerow some 500 yards away.” Extract from an officer’s letter to Alfred's Parents: "Anderson was busy firing his gun, and doing very good work when hit by an enemy machine gun bullet. He felt no pain at all poor boy and was killed instantaneously."
By the time of his death his parents were living at Ufford's Farm, Much Hadham, (formerly of the Bakery. East Barnet) and they received the there on October 14th. One of the letters received was from the officer of his platoon it read: "It is with the greatest of sorrow in my heart that I have to inform you of the death of your dear son. He was busy firing his gun and doing much good work when he was hit by an enemy machine gun bullet. He felt no pain at all poor boy, she was killed instantaneously. He was one of the best men in my platoon, being young, he was a very keen gunner and knew his work well."
Additional Information
His effects of £20-12s-8d, Pay Owing and £16-10s-0d, War Gratuity went to his father James. At the time of Alfred’s death his parents were living at Uffords Farm in Much Hadham.
His brother Private Frederick Anderson, who also served with the London Regiment (London Scottish), was killed in action on 28 March 1918, is also commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
