ANDERSON, James
| Service Number: | 34 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 14th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Drysdale, Victoria, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Drysdale, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Memorials: | Drysdale Bellarine Shire Council Roll of Honor, Drysdale St James' Anglican Church Roll of Honor, Drysdale State School No 1645 Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 2nd Field Ambulance | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Driver, 34, 2nd Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Driver, 34, 2nd Field Ambulance, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 2nd Field Ambulance, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 14th Field Ambulance, Egypt | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 14th Field Ambulance, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 11 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 14th Field Ambulance, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 14th Field Ambulance, Polygon Wood | |
| 19 Jun 1918: | Honoured Military Medal | |
| 28 Jul 1918: | Honoured Military Medal and bar | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 14th Field Ambulance, "The Last Hundred Days" | |
| 23 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 34, 14th Field Ambulance, RTA 23 October 1918 (1914 Leave) |
Help us honour James Anderson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Military Medal
'On the nights 18th/19th and 19th/20th June 1918 Private ANDERSON acted as driver to the Ford Motor Ambulance running between the Regimental Aid Post, South East of TREUX, and the Motor Loading Post, West of BUIRE. During these nights he repeatedly drove his car through barrage fire and successfully evacuated casualties. He showed indifference to danger, and splendid determination. the work of carefully driving a car in the dark, loaded with wounded, over a road pitted with shell holes, and in the villages of TREUX and BUIRE, covered with debris, demanded the greatest coolness and courage. His example set a fine standard for the other drivers of motor ambulances in the forward area and has had an excellent effect.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
Date: 12 February 1919
Bar to Military Medal
'For very great bravery on the night of 28th/29th July 1918 South East of MERICOURT on the BRAY-CORBIE Road when acting as driver of a Ford Motor Ambulance. Great difficulty was being experienced in getting the wounded away from the Regimental Aid Post at J 23 d 8.9 across country over broken muddy ground. Private NADERSON having heard of this drove his car along the Bray-Corbie Road in fully daylight and under considerable shell fire to a point in advance of the Aid Post and turned down a bye track and so reached the Aid Post. He returned along the same road many times and so effected the rapid evacuation of a large number of wounded. His action proceeding as far forward without having been ordered to do so along a road under full observation of the enemy and in full daylight not only showed great personal bravery and devotion to duty but also was a great use in successfully evacuating the wounded from the most difficult point in the sector.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 36
Date: 14 March 1919
What a shame James (known as Jim) that we only knew about you (and your bravery) late in life. I always wondered why many other kids had medals from their Grandfathers and we didn't... a broken family meant that you didn't know your daughter or son (my father). Did you ever re-partner? I have your citation and replica medals on my wall.
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