L/Cpl
Hector Harrison Anderson

Information about birth

Date of birth:
26/11/1895
Place of birth:
Ingham, Queensland, Australia

General information

Profession:
Carpenter

Army information

Country:
Australia
Force:
Australian Imperial Force
Rank:
Lance Corporal
Service number:
578
Enlistment date:
13/12/1915
Enlistment place:
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Units:
 —  Australian Infantry, 41st Bn. ( The Byron Scottish )  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
05/10/1917
Place of death:
Daisy Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
21

Memorial

Distinctions and medals 3

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

On 4 October 1917 the 41st Bn. A.I.F. took part in the Battle of Broodseinde, a sub battle in the Battle of Passchendaele. The 3rd Australian Division was to attack along the Ypres-Zonnebeke Railway with the 10th Brigade to left and 11th Brigade to the right. The 41st Bn. A.I.F. was responsible for taking the forth an final objective. The going to the jump-off line was tough and costed several casualties. From Bremen Redoubt they moved across the Zonnebeke marsh and could finally reach their assembly positions (Hill 40 – Flox House/Dochy Farm). At 6 AM, zero hour, the attack and artillery barrage began. The first objective was taken by the 43th Bn. A.I.F., the second by the 42th Bn. A.I.F. The third objective was taken by the 44th Bn. A.I.F. By then the 41th Bn. suffered severe casualties. The 41th Bn. took the fourth and final objective (Daisy Wood – Dash Crossing) and started consolidating. Several counter attacks were repulsed by by Lewis Gun and rifle fire. Two large scale counter attacks were dispersed by artillery fire. 36 men were killed of which 4 officers, 206 were wounded of which 5 officers and 24 men were missing. The 41th Bn. held the line until the morning of the 6th October, when they were relieved. Lance corporal Hector Harrison Anderson died on the 5th of October, while consolidating and holding the line.

Files 1

Sources 4

41st Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/58).
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources used
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, ANDERSON H H).
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/
Sources used
McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995) pg. 99.
Sources used
Members of the Intelligence Staff, The Forty-First. Being a Record of the 41st AIF during the Great War. (London, The Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2010) p. 61-64.
Sources used

More information 4