John Wales Anderson
Stephen LearmonthJohn was born in February 1890 in Preston, England, to Frederick Charles and Kate Blackburn (nee Carter) Anderson. The 1891 England Census shows that John and his mother were living with John's paternal grandmother, Mary, at 66 Station Street, Docking St, Mary, Norfolk. Ten years later, the Census records that John and Kate were living with Frederic and Mary, John’s sister, at 154 Willow Rd, Shirley, Hampshire. Frederic worked as a draughtsman for the Ordnance Survey Department. By 1911, the family had moved to 11 Wilton Road, Shirley, Southampton. John was 21 and was working as a Grocer’s assistant. By 1913, John had emigrated to Australia and was working as a station hand on Thologolong Station in the Upper Murray.
When he enlisted on 31 July 1915, John was a single 25-year-old labourer working on Thologolong Station in the Upper Murray. He was given Service Number 3231 and assigned to the 11th Reinforcements for the 8th Battalion. Three months later, he embarked on HMAT A71 Nestor at Adelaide, South Australia. While stationed at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, he was transferred to the 60th Battalion, then a month later, to the 57th Battalion.
In mid-March 1916, he spent a week in hospital at Tel-el-Kebir with influenza. He was appointed as a Driver. On 17 June, he embarked on HT Kalyan and disembarked at Marseilles, France, one week later. John was given two weeks' leave in England in January 1917. On 25 October 1917, he was wounded in action with a wound to his left femur and tibia.
The 57th Battalion’s War Diary records the day’s events.
“Battalion preparing to relieve the 29th Battalion in frontline. Received 48 hours rations which was to be carried on the person. The Battalion moved off from Huts at Ref H24C 4-4 at 2.30 pm sections at 20 yards apart in the following order HQ, A Coy, B, D and C. Picked up the 29th Bn guides at junction of Sleepers and Helles Tracks at 4.40 pm on the WESTHOEK RIDGE. The 29th Bn HQ and Coy. guides meet ours at Cable Hd at 5 pm arrived at frontline 5.30 pm. Relief completed at 7 pm. Casualties whilst relieving 1 officer and 1 OR (Other Rank, who was John) (Lieut. R Langley wounded in thigh). Relief went off very well.”
After almost six months at the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux, he was transported to England on the HS Cambria. He was admitted to the Military Hospital at Frensham Hill suffering from kidney stones and then to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
Discharged from hospital on 30 April 1918, he was given a two-week furlough in the UK before marching into No. 2 Convalescent Depot at Weymouth. He returned to Australia on 17 June 1918 aboard HT Matatua. For his service during the War, he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
On 10 June 1922, John married Iris May Sutherland, the second daughter of Thologolong Station owner Peter Sutherland. They married at St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Albury. The following year, the couple had a daughter, Dora May.
In 1936, John and Iris lived at 554 Small Street, Albury. John was working as a storekeeper. Iris passed away in Albury in 1956 and was buried in Fawkner Memorial Park. John passed away on 22 August 1971.
