Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Waldimar Christian Anderson, also referred as Valdemar Christian Neilson or Andersen, was born on the 23rd of September in 1887 in Ganløse, Frederiksborg Copenhagen, Denmark to mother Online Marie Neilson and father Hans Peter Anderson. Anderson was one of five siblings; Emil Marius Anderson, Dora Kristine Andersen, Jens Chrisitan Oluf Andersen, and Ida Marie Dorethea Andersen who lived in Espergærde Denmark until the death of their mother. Upon the death of Anderson’s mother, the family was split into different homes. Anderson served in the Danish Army as a sailor soon before travelling to Rosewater, Adelaide to become a seaman in Australia. In 1918, Anderson’s younger brother Emil Marius Anderson attempted to enter Australia, but was shot down by a mine in the North Sea.

Anderson attested on the 15th of February 1916. Anderson was placed in the 27th Infantry Battalion as a private and embarked from South Australia on the 11th of April on the HMAT A60 Aeneas.

On the 9th of June 1916, Anderson arrived in Alexandria, Egypt for training, aboard the Hororata HMAT, entering isolation later on the 8th of July 1916 due to measles. During this time, the 27th Infantry Battalion was involved in the first major battle at the Pozieres which Anderson was not involved in.

On the 9th of August 1916, Anderson embarked overseas from Alexandria per His Majesty’s transport Franconice alongside the 27th Battalion. On the 27th of September 1916, he proceeded to England, then on the 29th of September the same year proceeded to France.

Anderson was set to be transferred from the 27th Infantry Battalion to the 32nd infantry battalion on the 13th of October 1916, however, was affected by the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot. On the 15th of October 1916, Anderson was taken on strength by the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot whilst in the 12th reinforcement, 27th Infantry Battalion.

In early 1917, the British advanced to the Hindenburg Line, allowing the 32nd Infantry Battalion to carry out numerous operational attacks.

Anderson left on the 17th of September 1917 for leave, returning on the 2nd of October later that same year, becoming part of the Retired 5th Brigade works unit on the 14th of November 1917. During this time, the 32nd Battalion participated in the battles in Ypres and the Battle of Polygon Wood, which the battalion contributed majorly to.

On the 14th of November 1917 Messines, the Germans began retreating the front lines in the early hours. The 32nd Battalion relived the 16th Kings Royal Riffle Corps in the front line as the trenches underwent reconstruction.

On December 1st, 1917, the 32nd Battalion held the frontline ‘E’ at Messines in the cold and diggers progressed through the nights. On December 9th, 1917, the battalion rested, and gunfire was reported through the night.

The 32nd Infantry Battalion was set to relieve the 27th Battalion and one company of the 25th Battalion between the 14th and 15th of June 1918. On the morning of the 14th of June, it was planned for Anderson’s battalion to travel from Rivery to Pont Novelles by bus to reach the Reserve Line.

In June 1918, the 32nd Infantry Battalion issued a raid on the night of the 24th and morning of the 25th. The 6th Australian Infantry brigade was to carry out a raiding, the 32nd battalion, was to also undertake the operation. This raid intended to inflict casualties, capture prisoners and to damage material and defences as well as obtain identification documents from the enemy. On the 25th of June 1918, the morning of the raid, Anderson was wounded in battle with a gunshot wound to the right leg. Anderson was admitted to hospital on the 18th of June 1918 by the field resuscitation. On the 2nd of July 1918, Anderson was invalided to the United Kingdom for his wound and two days later admitted to the Graylingwell War Hospital.

The Allied Forces began attacking in the Battle of the Amiens on the 8th of August 1918, which the 32nd Infantry Battalion contributed to; the battalion aided in pushing the retreating German forces from August to December. The final major battle for the 32nd battalion was fought from the 29th of September 1918 to the 1st of October where American divisions and the 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions charged at the Hindenburg Line from the 6km long St Quentin Canal. Anderson was away from his battalion on leave. On the 26th of August 1918, Anderson reported back to the headquarters in London and did not return to his battalion. On the 9th of October 1918, Anderson was admitted to hospital due to sickness.

In Anderson’s absence, the 32nd Battalion rested and recovered out of the Hindenburg Line when the war had been declared ended on the 11th of November 1918.

After 3 years and 60 days of service in the Australian Imperial Force, Anderson was discharged on the 15th of April 1919 after returning to Australia on the 16th of January 1919 on the Demosthenes.

Anderson married Rube Kathleen Edmunds at Port Adelaide Church and had 3 children; Douglas Waldimar Emil Anderson, Elva Marie Anderson, and Brian Anderson.

After the war, Anderson began wearing glasses and also facing respiratory issues and chest pains. His wife recounted that he refused to see doctors despite coughing and spitting often. In 1942, Anderson and his wife separated with no official declaration. On the 21st  of February 1947, Anderson was charged at residence James Street for using indecent language within the hearing range of Constable A.E Chamberlain; to which Anderson pled guilty and was charged 5 pounds.

In between the 20th and the 21st of January 1948, Anderson passed away from Pneumonia. Rube Kathleen Edmunds was informed of the death 2 days later when asked to identify his body. According to her, Anderson was a heavy drinker of wine and often dragged his right foot when walking due to his injury in war. Anderson’s last conversation with Edmunds was over the heaviness felt on his right side. Waldimar Chrisitan Anderson is buried at Cheltenham Cemetery South Australia alongside his separated wife.