William Anderson

Rifleman William Anderson, service number 80719, New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

William was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 18 December 1897. He was  20 years old when he attested for service in January 1918. At this time he lived in Westport and worked as a purser for the Union Steam Ship Company. His mother, Marion and his father John Anderson  lived in Yale Road, Wellington. He had a brother George and sister Janet.

Although William attested for military service on 25 January 1918 he was granted four month's unpaid leave and did not actually enter training camp until 22 May. He had stated on his attestation form that he would have preferred to join the Artillery, but the Army posted him to C Company of the 41st Reinforcements to train as a Rifleman.

He embarked  from Wellington on 1 August 1918 and marched into the Rifle' Brigade's camp at Brocton, England on 4 October.  William joined the Brigade's 3rd Reserve Battalion for further training, but on 28 October he was admitted to Cannock Chase Military Hospital suffering from Influenza.  William died three days later, the cause of death being recorded  as 'Pneumonia', and he was buried at the Cannock Chase War Cemetery.  For many years following, William's 'sorrowing parents'  and siblings placed 'In Memoriam' notices in the Wellington newspapers on the anniversary of his death.

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