Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Thomas 'Art' ANDERSON (1896-1971)

Arthur 'Art' Anderson Was born on 1 October 1896, in the Bugle, ranges of the Adelaide hills To John and Emily Anderson (nee Harrip). The oldest of 10 children.

On 5 Apr 1916 Art enlisted in the AIF, and allocated Service No 2367.

He undertook induction and basic training mat what was the Exhibition Building on North Terrace Adelaide before proceeding to Mitcham Camp to complete pre-embarkation training.

From there he joined the 5th Reinforcements of the 50th Infantry Battalion for service on the Western Front.

Prior to embarkation, he married his fiancé, Mary Evelyn Henry on 2 September 1916.

He embarked for the UK on HMAT. on September disembarking in  Plymouth in November.

He was transferred to the 27th Battalion which required reinforcements having sustained heavy casualties in August / September around Pozieres / Mouquet Farm, then again in November at Flers / Guedecourt.

First he had to go via the 2nd Division Depot at Etaples in France for further training to prepare for trench warfare, before  joining the Battalion in January.

Then in February 1917 began the campaign known as 'The Outpost Villages' as the Allies followed up an orderly German withdrawal into the Hindenburg Line defences.  The aim was to 'straighten the line' rather than as a result of pressure by the Allies.  The villages were fortified and heavily defended to delay the Allies follow-up.

Art was engaged around the vlllage of Warlancourt.  Later, on 26 Mar 1917, Art and his comrades were involved in an attack on Lagnicourt as a precursor to the major operation at Bullecourt.

Art and his 27th Battalion moved to Reserve positions near Pozieres which had exacted heavy AIF casualties 7 months prior.  Art was woundedslightly but requiring medical attention.

then it was back to Bullecourt for the 2nd Division attack commencing 3 May, in what was known as 'Second Bullecourt', involving four of the AIF's three Divisions.  The 4th Division had fought First Bullecourt and was undergoing Rest and Reinforcement.

The newly arrived 3rd Division was committed to what became the first major Allied success on the Western Front at Messiness in June.

After the meat grinder of Bullecourt Art's 27th Battalion went into a Rest and Refit phase as well.

However Art contracted pleurisy and became very seriously ill, admitted for treatment on 24 July.  

He was transferred through the medical evacuation chain via the 5th Field Ambulance to the 29th Casualty Clearance Station at Grevilliers before evacuation to the UK.  He was admitted to Beaufort War Hospital near Bristol.

He was declared unfit for further military service and embarked for return to Australia in October 1917.

He was discharged on 27 December 1917, Medically unfit.

He re-enlisted in World War II into the 8 (SA) Battalion of hte VOlunteer Defence Corps.  His career was relatively short live once again being discharged medically unfit.

He died on 17 Feb 1971.  He was not interred until 11 August 1972.  There is speculation he may have donated his body for medical research because of the delay between death and interment.

On 2 Dec 25 The Headstone Project installed a haeadstone on his grave denoting his military service.