Remembrance - The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War

Corporal William ANDERSON, VC

Close window to return to main page

Corporal William Anderson, VC For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Neuve Chapelle on the 15th March I9I5, when he led three men with bombs against a large party of the enemy who had entered our trenches, and by his prompt and determined action saved what might have otherwise become a serious situation. Corporal Anderson first threw his own bombs, then those in possession of his three men (who had been wounded) among the Germans; after which he opened rapid fire upon them with great effect, notwithstanding that he was at the time quite alone. Corporal William Anderson, VC
(Left)   Captain W K Rollo, the Company Commander of 'D' Company, 2nd Battalion, and Corporal W Anderson resting from a period in the trenches at Fleurbaix during the winter of 1914.

William Anderson was the eldest son of Alexander and Bella Anderson born at Dallas, Elgin, Scotland in December 1882. (* Please see footnote below regarding genealogical information).  He was educated at Forres Academy before working at Glasgow Tramways Depot and in Elder Hospital, Govan in Glasgow.   He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment in 1905 serving in India, Egypt and South Africa before being discharged to the Reserve in 1912.   He was mobilised and sent to his old battalion in 1914, and as a Corporal travelled with the 2nd Yorkshires to Belgium to join the British Expeditionary Force.
Between October and November 1914, he took part in the First Battle of Ypres.   He fought at Estaires in early 1915.
8191 Corporal William Anderson was awarded the VC for the part he played in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle on 12th March 1915.   He was killed on the 13th March 1915, aged 30 years, and his body was never found.   The citation for the award of a posthumous Victoria Cross was announced in The London Gazette on 22nd May 1915.   As both parents were dead, his posthumous VC was presented to his brother, Alex Anderson on 19th May 1920, in the banqueting hall at Edinburgh Castle by Lieutenant General Sir Francis Davies.
Corporal Anderson's name appears on the Le Touret 'Memorial to the Missing' at Pas-de-Calais, some four miles to the north east of Bethune in France.   It is carved with those of 234 other members of the Yorkshire Regiment who have no known graves.   His VC and medals were donated to the Regiment by his brother in 1969 and are held by the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond.


Information on the medal holders on this page, and other pages relating to the regiment's WW1 VC holders, is taken from "Beyond Their Duty" by Roger Chapman.   This book was specialy written to commemorate the only occasion on which all 18 Victoria Crosses won by members of the Green Howards regiment were together (April to October 2001, in the Green Howards Museum).   The book may be purchased from the Green Howards Museum Shop.

Andrew Nixon provides the following correction to the genealogical information on William Anderson and his parents;-
Scottish Genealogical Record B 1883 129 2, to be found in New Register House, Edinburgh, shows that
a       William Anderson was born at Dallas, Elgin on 28 December 1882
b       His father, Alexander (a general labourer), and his mother, Isabella, were married at Dallas, Elgin, on 26 November 1880.

We are very grateful to Andrew Nixon for providing this information.

---------------> Return to Top of the Page