ANDERSON, William
| Service Numbers: | Q11356, QX38797 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 March 1941, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Craftsman |
| Last Unit: | 2nd AIF Light Aid Detachments |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, 24 December 1921 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Coolangatta State School |
| Occupation: | Gas Inspector at retirement (Qld Gov) |
| Died: | Natural causes, Brisbane, Queensland, 7 July 2013, aged 91 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 18 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Private, Q11356, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 1941: | Involvement Q11356, also QX38797 | |
| 14 Sep 1942: | Enlisted Private, QX38797, Brisbane, Queensland | |
| 21 Nov 1945: | Discharged Craftsman, QX38797, 2nd AIF Light Aid Detachments |
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William (Bill) Anderson's service records have him as born 24 December 1920 however as was common during those days he lied about his age to join the Army. He was actually born in 1921. His girlfriend and later wife Joan would go to Gona Barracks on Kelvin Grove Road with her sisters to watch him train. When he was away in New Guinea during WWII Joan would instruct their young son and daughter to kiss a photo of him every night.
When he was discharged, he was regarded as quite the stranger to his kids. Another son was born after the war. For reasons Bill took to his grave, he only ever marched in one Anzac Day parade. He preferred to spend the day at home with his family and never discussed his war-time experiences with his children and their later offspring.
Bill remained married to Joan until she passed away in 1997, a marriage that lasted 57 years. Bill died aged 91 in 2013, a Father of three, Grandfather of seven, a Great-grandfather of 10 and a Great-great-grandfather of three.
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