Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Hughie Anderson was born a Roman Catholic on the 30th of April 1917 in Melbourne Victoria. His mother lived in Port Adelaide, and he was married on the 8th of October 1940. He was a single labourer living in Port Adelaide – Enfield, South Australia when he enlisted on the 21st of May 1940 at the age of 23(NAA).

He was allocated Army Service Number SX3096 and was assigned to the 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion (NAA). The 2nd/27th Battalion was the second of the largely South Australian Battalions raised for WW2 and the headquarters opened for the first time at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia on the 7th of May 1940 (AWM).

On the 25th of May 1940, Hughie marched into Woodside with his Battalion from Wayville. After spending some time in trouble for a disciplinary action involving smoking and 7 days of pre-embarkation leave, on the 11th of October 1940, he embarked on the HMT Mauretania for overseas. On the 12th of December 1940, he disembarked in the Middle East.

The 2/27th Battalion’s first operational assignment during WW2 was to help with the defences along the Egypt-Libya frontier against an expected German attack. It took up positions at Maaten Bagush and Matruh throughout much of April and May 1941, before returning to Palestine in preparation for its first offensive operation - the invasion of Syria and Lebanon, which began on 8 June 1941 (AWM).
Most of the Battalion’s operations were situated in the hills that edged the coastal plain. Its major actions were at Adloun on 11 June, Miyeoumiye on 13-14 June and around El Boum, as part of the battle of Damour, between 6 and 9 July. After the armistice of 12 July, the 2/27th remained in Lebanon as part of the Allied garrison until 11 January 1942 (AWM).

According to one record, during this period in July 1941, Hughie Anderson was graded ‘Army Mason’ but in October 1941 this grading was relinquished. In November 1941 he was fined as a punishment due to disciplinary action being taken against him because of the disobeying orders. In December 1941 he was then graded as Army Carpenter.

In April 1942, Hughie embarked the Middle East on the SS lle de France and was then transhipped to Bombay to HMS City of London. He disembarked in Australia for the 4 Military District (possibly in Adelaide) and in May 1942 was reportedly ill and evacuated to 2/9 General Hospital. In July 1942 he was evacuated from this Hospital to 2/14 Australian Special Hospital where in August 1942 he was discharged and returned to his unit. He was subjected to various disciplinary actions during this time for his behaviour which had allegedly delayed the cure of his disease and illness while in hospital. Again, he was fined as a punishment.

Around August / September 1942, Hughie embarked Brisbane and disembarked into Port Moresby where he and his Battalion were sent to relieve the Militia Battalions that had held the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track.
Around December 1942, records indicate that the 2/27th Battalions was involved in action at Gona which is likely to be where Hughie Anderson was wounded in action. In the weeks later, he sadly died from his wounds. According to various documents he is recorded as having been buried at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea. According to his service and casualty forms though, it is documented that he was buried and then re-buried, his last resting place being at the Soputa War Ceremony, New Guinea (NAA).

This information is also confirmed on Hughie Anderson’s Roll of Honour circular. During the war, these circulars were forms sent to the next of kin seeking details regarding the deceased. Hughie Anderson’s name is located at panel 54, supplementary panel 5 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.