Anderson, Eric
- Date of birth:
- September 15th, 1915 (Fagley/Yorkshire, Great Britain)
- Date of death:
- April 6th, 1943 (Akarit, Tunisia)
- Buried on:
- Commonwealth War Cemetery Sfax
Plot: II. Row: C. Grave: 14. - Service number:
- 4347754
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Eric Anderson was born on September 15th, 1915 as the son to George and Mary Anderson. After his school periods he started working as driver with a building company in Idle.
During the Second World War het served as Private with 5th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment. When on April 6th, 1943 at Wadi Akarit in Tunesia a company of his regiment had to withdraw behind a ridge, Private Anderson, serving as stretcher bearer, went forward to retrieve wounded comrades. Three times he managed to bring wounded men into safety. When he was contributing first aid a fourth time, he was mortally wounded.
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Victoria Cross (VC)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Private
- Unit:
- A Company, 5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 69th Infantry Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, British Army
- Awarded on:
- July 29th, 1943
"On the 6th April, 1943, a Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment was making a dawn attack on a strong enemy locality on the Wadi Akarit with "A" Company leading.
After some progress had been made and "A" Company was advancing over an exposed forward slope, it suddenly came under most intense and accurate machine gun and mortar fire from well concealed enemy strong points not more than 200 yards away.
Further advance in that direction was impossible and "A" Company was able to withdraw behind the crest of a hill, with the exception of a few men who were wounded and pinned to the ground by strong and well directed small arms fire.
Private Anderson, a stretcher bearer attached to "A" Company, seeing these men lying wounded in "no man's land", quite regardless of his personal safety, went forward alone through intense fire and single handed carried back a wounded soldier to a place of safety where medical attention could be given. Knowing that more men were
lying wounded in the open he again went out to the bullet swept slope, located a second wounded man and carried him to safety.
Private Anderson went forward once again and safely evacuated a third casualty. Without any hesitation or consideration for himself he went out for a fourth time but by now he was the only target the enemy had to shoot at and when he reached the fourth wounded man, and was administering such first aid as he could to prepare for the return journey, he was himself hit and mortally wounded.
Private Anderson, by his valour, complete disregard for his personal safety, and courage under fire, probably saved the lives of three of his comrades and his example was an inspiration to all who witnessed his gallant acts."
LG 36110/3421.
The presentation of the Victoria Cross took place on October 27th, 1943.
Private Anderson’s Victoria Cross is publicly displayed at the Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire Museum in York, East Yorkshire, England.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Find A Grave Homepage
- -- Supplement to The London Gazette of 27th July 1943, Issue 36110, dated 29th July 1943
- Victoria Cross Reference
- The History of the Victoria Cross
- The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire Museum
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