L/Cpl
Thomas Anderson
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 26/06/1890 |
|
Place of birth: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
|
Profession: Teacher |
Army information
|
Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
|
Force: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Lance Corporal |
|
Service number: 241953 |
|
Enlistment date: 25/05/1916 |
|
Units: — Gordon Highlanders, 1/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 23/09/1917 |
|
Place of death: Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station, Westvleteren, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
|
Age: 27 |
Cemetery
|
Dozinghem Military Cemetery Plot: 8 Row: C Grave: 13 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
The battalions detailed for the capture of the Blue line, the 4th Gordon Highlanders and the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, had suffered serious casualties from being involved in the fighting for Pheasant Trench. The 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders reached the Blue line, after they had overcome Flora Cot, Quebec Farm and Bavaroise House. The 4th Gordon Highlanders captured Pheasant Farm Cemetery, Malta House, Rose House and Delta House. During these fights, and the previous fights, the 4th Gordon Highlanders had lost a lot of men. The Blue line was consolidated. Consolidation had not long been in progress before that a series of enemy counter-attacks began which culminated in the late afternoon. On the 21st of September, at 11.45 a.m., the enemy attacked the left of the 4th Gordon Highlanders. The 4th Gordon Highlanders made short work of this attack. During the afternoon, the Blue line was held along its length up to Rose House, where the line bent back forming a defensive flank, until touch was obtained with the Division on the left. At 5 p.m. the enemy did another counter-attack. Rose House continued to hold out, but was isolated. The front line gave in. the small party in the Beer Trench gave in, after every officer of the 4th Gordon Highlanders who had taken part in the initial attack had become a casualty. Malta House was next overwhelmed, and the platoon at Stroom Trench was forced back. About 6 p.m. there was the general withdrawal of the troops inside the V formed by the Poelcappelle Road and the Lekkerboterbeek. During this withdrawal, defensive flanks were formed. There was a successful attack against the enemy, by which the enemy was cleared out of the angle of the V, around point 82 on the Poelcappelle Road. The front line was then reorganized, running from a point 500 yards north of Delta Huts through Pheasant Farm Cemetery on the south side of Point 82 to the Lekkerboterbeek, then along the stream until it joined the original Blue line. During the night of the 21-22nd, the 152nd Infantry Brigade relieved the 154th. It was probably during one of these attacks from 20th to 21st September that Thomas Anderson was wounded, and on the 23rd of September he died of these wounds, probably at Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station.
There were two objectives. First there was the dotted Blue line, running from the Stroombeek in a northwest direction to Delta Huts. Secondly, there was the final objective, the Blue line, which ran through Quebec Farm, Bavaroise House, Church Trench and Delta House. The attack was to be carried out on a two-battalion front. Two leading battalions, namely the 9th Royal Scots and the 4th Seaforth Highlanders, had to take the dotted Blue line. The 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the 4th Gordon Highlanders had to pass through the leading battalions, each on a three-company front, to capture the final objective. There were also special parties in the rear of the attacking waves in the attack on the dotted Blue line, to be ready to counter any attempt of counterattack by the enemy.
The attack was launched at 5.40 a.m. on September 20th. In the first phase strong resistance was met in and in front of Pheasant Trench. On the right, A-Company and B-Company of the 9th Royal Scots were engaged with rifle and machine-gun fire from the start. A-Company assisted by C-Company, whose objective was the dotted Blue line, advanced. They gained their objective, and enabled the continuation of the advance to the dotted Blue line. On the left B-Company and D-Company of the 9th Royal Scots occupied Pheasant Trench almost at once. The left two platoons of the company front reached the trench but were heavily engaged by machine-gun fire, and returned to the lines. The men were reorganized, and moved forward again, accompanied by some of the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, who were destined for the capture of the Blue line. Assisted by the platoon which had already gained a footing in Pheasant Trench, and which fought its way along the trench to its left flank, this party captured its objective. The 4th Seaforth Highlanders on the left encountered their fiercest opposition in Pheasant Trench between Point 85 and the Lekkerboterbeek. Eventually they triumphed.
After the capture of Pheasant Trench, the advance on the dotted Blue line was continued. C Company of the 9th Royal Scots fought hard around Flora Cot. D Company of the 9th Royal Scots reached the Blue line successfully. The 4th Seaforth Highlanders captured the Blue dotted line and consolidated it. The Blue dotted line was thus captured by the 4th Seaforths and 9th Royal Scots.
The battalions detailed for the capture of the Blue line, the 4th Gordon Highlanders and the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, had suffered serious casualties from being involved in the fighting for Pheasant Trench. The 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders reached the Blue line, after they had overcome Flora Cot, Quebec Farm and Bavaroise House. The 4th Gordon Highlanders captured Pheasant Farm Cemetery, Malta House, Rose House and Delta House. During these fights, and the previous fights, the 4th Gordon Highlanders had lost a lot of men. The Blue line was consolidated. Consolidation had not long been in progress before that a series of enemy counter-attacks began which culminated in the late afternoon. On the 21st of September, at 11.45 a.m., the enemy attacked the left of the 4th Gordon Highlanders. The 4th Gordon Highlanders made short work of this attack. During the afternoon, the Blue line was held along its length up to Rose House, where the line bent back forming a defensive flank, until touch was obtained with the Division on the left. At 5 p.m. the enemy did another counter-attack. Rose House continued to hold out, but was isolated. The front line gave in. the small party in the Beer Trench gave in, after every officer of the 4th Gordon Highlanders who had taken part in the initial attack had become a casualty. Malta House was next overwhelmed, and the platoon at Stroom Trench was forced back. About 6 p.m. there was the general withdrawal of the troops inside the V formed by the Poelcappelle Road and the Lekkerboterbeek. During this withdrawal, defensive flanks were formed. There was a successful attack against the enemy, by which the enemy was cleared out of the angle of the V, around point 82 on the Poelcappelle Road. The front line was then reorganized, running from a point 500 yards north of Delta Huts through Pheasant Farm Cemetery on the south side of Point 82 to the Lekkerboterbeek, then along the stream until it joined the original Blue line. During the night of the 21-22nd, the 152nd Infantry Brigade relieved the 154th. It was probably during one of these attacks from 20th to 21st September that Thomas Anderson was wounded, and on the 23rd of September he died of these wounds at Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station.
There were two objectives. First there was the dotted Blue line, running from the Stroombeek in a northwest direction to Delta Huts. Secondly, there was the final objective, the Blue line, which ran through Quebec Farm, Bavaroise House, Church Trench and Delta House. The attack was to be carried out on a two-battalion front. Two leading battalions, namely the 9th Royal Scots and the 4th Seaforth Highlanders, had to take the dotted Blue line. The 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the 4th Gordon Highlanders had to pass through the leading battalions, each on a three-company front, to capture the final objective. There were also special parties in the rear of the attacking waves in the attack on the dotted Blue line, to be ready to counter any attempt of counterattack by the enemy.
The attack was launched at 5.40 a.m. on September 20th. In the first phase strong resistance was met in and in front of Pheasant Trench. On the right, A-Company and B-Company of the 9th Royal Scots were engaged with rifle and machine-gun fire from the start. A-Company assisted by C-Company, whose objective was the dotted Blue line, advanced. They gained their objective, and enabled the continuation of the advance to the dotted Blue line. On the left B-Company and D-Company of the 9th Royal Scots occupied Pheasant Trench almost at once. The left two platoons of the company front reached the trench but were heavily engaged by machine-gun fire, and returned to the lines. The men were reorganized, and moved forward again, accompanied by some of the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, who were destined for the capture of the Blue line. Assisted by the platoon which had already gained a footing in Pheasant Trench, and which fought its way along the trench to its left flank, this party captured its objective. The 4th Seaforth Highlanders on the left encountered their fiercest opposition in Pheasant Trench between Point 85 and the Lekkerboterbeek. Eventually they triumphed.
After the capture of Pheasant Trench, the advance on the dotted Blue line was continued. C Company of the 9th Royal Scots fought hard around Flora Cot. D Company of the 9th Royal Scots reached the Blue line successfully. The 4th Seaforth Highlanders captured the Blue dotted line and consolidated it. The Blue dotted line was thus captured by the 4th Seaforths and 9th Royal Scots.
The battalions detailed for the capture of the Blue line, the 4th Gordon Highlanders and the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, had suffered serious casualties from being involved in the fighting for Pheasant Trench. The 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders reached the Blue line, after they had overcome Flora Cot, Quebec Farm and Bavaroise House. The 4th Gordon Highlanders captured Pheasant Farm Cemetery, Malta House, Rose House and Delta House. During these fights, and the previous fights, the 4th Gordon Highlanders had lost a lot of men. The Blue line was consolidated. Consolidation had not long been in progress before that a series of enemy counter-attacks began which culminated in the late afternoon. On the 21st of September, at 11.45 a.m., the enemy attacked the left of the 4th Gordon Highlanders. The 4th Gordon Highlanders made short work of this attack. During the afternoon, the Blue line was held along its length up to Rose House, where the line bent back forming a defensive flank, until touch was obtained with the Division on the left. At 5 p.m. the enemy did another counter-attack. Rose House continued to hold out, but was isolated. The front line gave in. the small party in the Beer Trench gave in, after every officer of the 4th Gordon Highlanders who had taken part in the initial attack had become a casualty. Malta House was next overwhelmed, and the platoon at Stroom Trench was forced back. About 6 p.m. there was the general withdrawal of the troops inside the V formed by the Poelcappelle Road and the Lekkerboterbeek. During this withdrawal, defensive flanks were formed. There was a successful attack against the enemy, by which the enemy was cleared out of the angle of the V, around point 82 on the Poelcappelle Road. The front line was then reorganized, running from a point 500 yards north of Delta Huts through Pheasant Farm Cemetery on the south side of Point 82 to the Lekkerboterbeek, then along the stream until it joined the original Blue line. During the night of the 21-22nd, the 152nd Infantry Brigade relieved the 154th. It was probably during one of these attacks from 20th to 21st September that Thomas Anderson was wounded, and on the 23rd of September he died of these wounds at Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station.
Sources 4
|
4 Battalion Gordon Highlanders (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2886/2). https://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
|
Bewsher F.W., major, D.S.O. M.C., The History of the Fifty First (Highland) Division 1914-1918 (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press), p. 218-229. Sources used |
|
Falls Cyril, The Gordon Highlanders in the First World War 1914-1919 (Aberdeen, The University Press, 1958), p. 159-162. Sources used |
|
McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995),pg. 79-80. Sources used |
More information 3
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/619757 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e83cc8ff-5930-434d-80bc-82f9b558d6a0 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/53452 |