James Stanford Anderson (1899-1982)

1918

Wyndham City Libraries

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James Stanford Anderson

50420

John Anderson
Father

23A Berry Street,
Yarraville

Single

Unknown

No.50420  James Stanford Anderson
James Stanford Anderson was born in Coburg, Victoria on 27 November 1899.  

War Service
He enlisted at Footscray on 26 January 1918 – the final year of the war – aged just 18.

Working as a driver before joining up, his Attestation papers listed him as having a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.   He had some experience of life in the military having served as a senior cadet for four years prior to enlisting. d His father – John S Anderson – was registered as next of kin and was living at Berry Street, Yarraville.

Following basic training, James Anderson passed his Light Horse test on 29 January 1918.  Although it varied from state to state, the focus was on their horse riding and handling skills.  A good horseman was not only able to tackle jumps and other obstacles, but could control up to five horses on his own.  By passing the test, he was allowed to wear the coveted emu feather which distinguished all Victorian members of the Light Horse.

A gruelling regime of training followed before James and his unit left Sydney in June and disembarked at Suez in Egypt on 17 July 1918.

Further training followed before he was allocated to the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment on 27 November 1918 just 16 days after the Armistice.

The 4th Light Horse had been in the war since it started, fighting as ground troops at Gallipoli, on the Western Front in France and in Egypt where it focused on protecting the strategically important Suez Canal Zone.  A Victorian regiment, it had been formed in 1914.

Then regiment achieved legendary status in October 1917 for the cavalry charge at Beersheeba.

During Trooper Anderson's service in Egypt, he probably participated in the regiment's final action – quelling the Egyptian revolt that erupted in March 1919.  He returned to Australia in July 1919 and was discharged from service on 9 August 1919.

Post War
It would appear that he then spent most of his life in Melbourne after the war working as a grocer.  He married Ms Euphemia Grace Pack Hing Yephing in 1922 and died at Heidelberg on 20 February 1982 aged 83.

Medals & Entitlements:

• British War Medal

Lest we forget

NAA Citation: NAA: B2455, Anderson J S

http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_10555.asp

4th Light Horse Regiment’s military history http://www.lighthorse.org.au/resources/history-of-the-australian-light-horse/the-mounted-soldiers-of-australia

British War Medal