Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Pete was born on 13 May 1887 at Moonta (SA) to Peter Anderson and Catherine Anderson (nee Symons). He was the second eldest of 8 children in the family, 4 boys and 4 girls. His family lived in Moonta (SA), where his father worked in the mines.
Pete went to school at the Moonta Mines School. On completion of schooling he moved to Carrow (Port Neill) and worked as a farm labourer for several years, before marrying Nellie Alice Ashton and moving to Poonindie, where they purchased a "block". The couple had two children, both boys, in this location.
He enlisted in the Army at Tumby Bay at the age of 29. At the time of enlistment he recorded his occupation as farmer.
After enlistment he went to Mitcham for processing and was then sent to C Company 2nd Depot Battalion (Bn) for training on 29 Mar 1916.
Unfortunately he then became ill with Cerebral-Spinal Meningitis; he died of the disease on 25 Jun 1916, less than 3 months after he enlisted. At this time three other members in the same Company of his Battalion had also contracted the same disease and died from it.
The prefix "S" to his Service Number denotes that he had enlisted in South Australia and indicates that he had not been posted to an AIF unit, but died during training. It was only used during such instances.
The fact that Pete had enlisted and died in service is recognised in the same way as any serviceperson who was killed during WW1. His wife received the same pension, as did his children, as if he had been killed in action or died of disease whilst serving in an AIF unit.
His name is recorded on the Tumby Bay Memorial.