Wilfred Arnold Anderson

Wilfred Arnold Anderson was born in 1889 at Cudgewa, Victoria, to Thomas and Annie Elizabeth (nee Meyer) Anderson. He was the second of four children. Tragically, Wilfred's youngest brother, James, died in 1895 at the age of five. About 1912, Wilfred moved in with his older brother, Thomas Wesley, at 49 Fenwick Street, Clifton Hill, Victoria. He gained employment as a postal assistant.

He enlisted on January 1 1916, at Melbourne, Victoria. Wilfred was allocated the Service Number 24389. He was initially allocated to the 24th (Depot) Battalion at Royal Park as a Private. Two weeks later, he was assigned as a Gunner for the 8th Reinforcements for the 3rd FAB at Maribynong. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A37 Barambah on June 26 1916, at Melbourne.

Wilfred arrived at Plymouth, England on August 25 1916. He was reassigned as a Driver in No. 1 Section of the 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column. In late November, he was posted to France. As a driver, it was Wilfred’s responsibility to transport artillery and small arms ammunition from rear dumps to the frontline guns, often under intense artillery fire. He was granted two weeks leave back in England in January 1918, but, four days after arriving in England, he was admitted to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. After ten days, he was transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Sutton Veny. Wilfred spent the next two months with the Overseas Training Brigade at Perham Down.

On May 13 1918, he proceeded overseas to France, where he rejoined his unit the following day at Rouelles. Nearly one month after the signing of the Armistice, Wilfred was transferred to the Australian Army Postal Corps, where his job skills before enlisting were put to good use. In early January and February he enjoyed two short periods of leave, one to Brussels and the other to Paris. One month before leaving for Australia, Wilfred had a two-week leave pass to England. On June 20 1919, he embarked on the SS Koing Friedrich August and sailed home to Australia. He was discharged three months later on September 20 1919. For his service during the war, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Upon returning to Australia, he got his job back with the Post Office. Wilfred married Elisa Olive Bertha Hawkins at Cooma, NSW, on January 9 1922. Over the next forty years, Wilfred, Elisa, and their son, Ray, born in Hay in 1926, moved around New South Wales, working in post offices at Hay, Wagga Wagga, and Golburn. In 1958 the three of them lived in Woy Woy, NSW, where Kevin ran a taxi business as Wilfred enjoyed his retirement.

In February 1962, Elisa passed away at Chatswood, NSW, and was buried in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens. Wilfred died on July 16 1973, at Castle Hill, NSW.