SANDERSON, William Hatherley
| Service Number: | 276 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 October 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Veterinary Section: AIF |
| Born: | Euroa, 1886 |
| Home Town: | Violet Town, Strathbogie, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Violet Town State School |
| Occupation: | Tram Conductor |
| Died: | Heart Attack, Violet Town, 22 August 1965 |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne |
| Memorials: | Euroa Telegraph Park, Violet Town A.N.A. Branch No 204 Honor Roll, Violet Town Honour Roll WW1, Violet Town Primary School Honour Roll, Violet Town St Dunstan's Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 276 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 276, 2nd Veterinary Section: AIF, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '24' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 276, 2nd Veterinary Section: AIF, HMAT Borda, Melbourne |
A TRIBUTE TO THE SANDERSON FAMILY
The following is a tribute to the Sanderson family by Joan McKenzie, daughter of Grace Sanderson, one of the twins.
The Sanderson family lived in Violet Town in the late 1800s in impoverished circumstances. The father was said to be an abusive drunk who neglected his wife, children and cordial business. As a result several of the sons were sent to work on nearby farms in return for food and lodgings. He died at an early age. Family life can’t have been easy but my mother always spoke lovingly of her mother who had a beautiful nature and was dedicated to protecting and caring for her children until she died at the age of 55.
The eldest in the family, Auntie Edie sacrificed her city life to return to Violet Town and care for the five younger children. Four of the brothers Will, Bert, Charlie and Glen answered the nation’s call and enlisted in the First World War. They signed over their army pay to Auntie Edie for the care of their siblings. All four brothers returned from the war shattered by the horror they had witnessed on the battlefields of Europe. Memories of those atrocities stayed with them throughout their lives.
Sadly the family was fractured by these events. Contact became irregular as they scattered all over Victoria. Still, the boys always thought of Violet Town as their home.
The Sanderson men fought bravely and returned with distinguished war records. My Grandmother would have been proud of her courageous sons. Their descendants and present family members continue to honour their memories.’
Submitted 14 April 2016 by Elsa Reuter
Biography
SANDERSON William Hatherley 276 CPL
5th Mobile Veterinary Section
1886-1965
Charles Scuffam Sanderson worked as a cordial maker in Violet Town; in 1883 he married Margaret Jean Kellock at the Anglican Parsonage in Euroa. There were to be 10 children, born in Violet Town and Echuca. The family finally settled in Violet Town where the children were educated at the State School.
Charles died in 1910 and Margaret died in 1916, thus leaving the younger members of the family in need of a carer. This gap was filled by the eldest sister Edith, who left Melbourne and for a time lived in Violet Town before taking the younger members of the family back to Melbourne.
William Hatherley Sanderson was the eldest son and second child of Charles and Margaret. Born in 1886 he had been working as a tram conductor when he enlisted on 17 October 1914, aged 28. He was drafted into the Army Veterinary Section. He named his sister Edith as his next of kin.
‘The AAVS (Australian Army Veterinary Section), one of the army’s smallest and least recognised corps played a crucial role supporting wartime operations. Animals – horses mules, camels, dogs and pigeons were an intrinsic part of these operations. Their health, food, water, rest and general care in the excessive heat of the desert fell to the AAVS. Forage issues and poor horsemanship remained travelling companions for most veterinary officers, as were adequate water, shade and treatment of diseases peculiar to the Middle East. When units were transferred to France, conditions differed markedly from those in the desert and adjustments had to be made.’ (Forgotten Men by Michael Tyquin).
Will embarked on HMAT Borda from Melbourne on 22 December 1914 bound for Alexandria. The Light Horse training camp was situated at Maadi, south of Cairo and this is where Will would have been stationed. On 22 March 1916 he was taken on strength into the 4th Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) and promoted to CPL.
In June 1916 he boarded HMAT Missouri bound for Marseille and the Depot at Camiers. From there he was detached from the AAVC to be an acting sergeant with the 13th Infantry Battalion.
On 20 February 1917 he was hospitalised with pleurisy and was eventually transferred from Havre to England and the Holborn Military Hospital at Mitcham.
Following his recovery he had two weeks furlough, returning to Perham Downs for a course in signalling. The following May he returned to France to reinforce the AAVC at the Australian Veterinary Hospital at Calais where he remained until his return to Australia per HMAT Port Hacking arriving on 3 December 1918. After his discharge on 21 March 1919 he returned to his former employment as a tram conductor and then transferred to the Postal Department.
In 1922 he married Ivy Ellen McNab with whom he had three sons and one daughter, Hatherley William (Bill) 1926-1995), Robert Middlemiss (Bob) (1928-2002), Kenneth Maurice (Ken) (1933-2000). A daughter Vera, was born in 1924 and died in 2013.
Will died of a heart attack on the day following an RSL ball in Violet Town to which he was taken every year by his good friend Bob Williams. He died as a result on 22 August 1965 and was cremated at Springvale Crematorium. There is a rose bush in the garden to commemorate Will and his wife Ivy.
Service Medals: 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal
Memorials: Violet Town State School Honour Board
Main Honour Board, Memorial Hall, Violet Town
ANA Honour Board, Violet Town
St Dunstan’s Anglican Church, Violet Town
Tree No 55 was planted in 1917 by A Dickenson.
In 2013 a Ceratonia siliqua - Carob Tree - was planted by Robert Sanderson.
Many thanks to Joan McKenzie, a niece of Will, for supplying information and making the writing of his story such a pleasure.
© 2016 Sheila Burnell
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