Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Adolf Otto and Mary Eliza Augusta Andersen

Studied Electrical Engineering in England Post War

William Herbert Andersen was born on March 31, 1896, and was the second son of his parents, Mary Eliza Augusta Andersen, and Adolph Otto Andersen. Together, they lived at 63 Kingston Terrace North Adelaide in South Australia and were a part of the Church of England. In November 1910 he worked as a Grade 1 Telegraph Messenger earning £52 a year. In August 1913, he was promoted to a Grade 2 letter carrier to work at The Royal Exchange in the mail branch department with a salary of £72 per year. When he was 15 years old on January 1 ,1911 he began his mandatory service in the Universal Service Scheme for boys aged 12-18. He was a senior cadet and served for 5 years in the 4th military district.

William Herbert Andersen enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on April 19, 1916, and was assigned the service number of 29898. He was 19 years and 11 months old on the day he enrolled, then became a Private and went through basic training in the B. Company 2nd Depot Battalion on April 25, 1916. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on May 1, 1916, then transferred to the Field Artillery Mitcham Training camp in Adelaide. On May 16, 1916, he advanced to a Gunner and Provisional Corporal. He went to the Artillery Reinforcements on August 22, 1916, then proceed to the Field Artillery base at Maribyrnong Camp in Victoria on August 31, 1916. At this camp he was promoted to a Bombardier and held that position for the rest of World War 1.

William Herbert Andersen boarded the HMAT Aeneas in Melbourne on October 3, 1916, to fight in Europe. After a 7-week voyage, he reached England and disembarked in Plymouth on November 19, 1916. In Plymouth, at the Reserve Artillery Brigade, he trained at Larkhill camp Wiltshire at camps 20 and 21. He marched to Folkestone and boarded a ship across the English Channel to fight in France, on April 11, 1917.

Andersen marched in to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade 2nd June 1917 and was taken on strength with the 46th Battery. In July he was transferred to 6th Australian Field Artillery and was posted to the 17th Battery. In late November 1917 he was granted 2 weeks leave and he returned to the UK. He returned to France and his unit 14 December 1917. In June 1918, he contracted dysentery but recovered. 

On December 18, 1918, he developed pyorrhea, caused by his wartime service, and received free military medical care for his dental fees. His artillery unit left France and traveled to England on February 15, 1919. He was taken off strength in the 6th Field Artillery Brigade on April 20, 1919, and officially added to the unit roster on May 25, 1919. He was granted 6 months’ leave on February 26, 1919, to pursue his industrial training at the Falcon Electrical Works located in Wednesbury London. He passed the course and was given a good reference.

The AIF Headquarters funded this food and housing and paid him 27 shillings per week. They provided him with train tickets worth 12 shillings and 4 pence to travel between London and the West Midlands Industrial Sector in Birmingham. The expenses of his work suit cost 2 pounds, 5 shillings and 6 pence, which were covered by the AIF Headquarters, as well as his protective overalls worth 14 shillings and 11 pence. On August 26, 1919, he was granted another 6 months of Electrical Engineering study leave before being officially discharged in the 4th military district. On January 6, 1920, he sailed back to Australian in the SS Pakeha.

When he returned from England his parents now lived in the Yongala House on Walkerville Terrace in Gilberton, South Australia. On July 15, 1921, he received a British war medal at Keswick Barracks Adelaide.

William Herbert Andersen married Margaret Nerea Olive on November 19, 1921. She was an only child born on January 1, 1899, in Birmingham England. Their wedding was held at St. Cyprians Church in North Adelaide, and they lived together in Meldreth Park South Australia. In April 1923 he was awarded a victory medal at Keswick Barracks in Adelaide for his active combat service on the Western front.

He enlisted in World War 2 when he was 46 years old on February 12, 1943, in Hindmarsh South Australia. His service number was S112387, and his unit was the 4th Australian Line of Communications where he was ranked a Signalman. His reason for death is unknown; however, at age 68, William Herbert Andersen was buried at the Centennial Park Cemetery 760 Goodwood Road in Pasadena Adelaide, on June 30, 1964. 16 years later, Margaret Nerea Olive died on July 18, 1985, at age 86 and was buried with her husband.