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06/06/1891 - 22/09/1914

Place of birth: Milton, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 32 Bourne Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Battalion/Ship: HMS Hogue
Rank: Leading Seaman
Number: J918
Awards: Mentioned in Dispatches

Family information

Parents: George & Elizabeth Anderson (nee Watts)
Parents' occupation: Labourer in brickworks
Siblings: George, Thomas, Jane, Annie, Elizabeth, Jessie, Ellen, Dorothy, Leonard
Relatives on War Memorial: ANDERSON, A.J., ANDERSON, G., ANDERSON, T.

Census information

1901
Address: 32 Bourne Road
1911
Address: HMS Hyacinth, Chatham Dockyard
Occupation: Able Seaman

Extra details

William was the 6th of George and Elizabeth Anderson eleven children. Shortly after his birth the family moved to 32 Bourne Road, Bromley where his father worked as a brickmaker. He attended Raglan Road School and at 16 joined the Navy, training at Shotley Barracks, near Ipswich.

From 1908 to 1911 William was stationed in Indian waters aboard HMS Hyacinth, returning to Chatham in March 1911 for a refit. During this time William was mentioned in despatches and presented with a rifle by the captain.
On returning to home waters he made Leading Seaman and qualified for Seaman Gunner. From 1912 to 1913 he was stationed off the west coast of Africa, and during that time passed for Petty Officer, and subsequently made Gunnery Instructor at Chatham Barracks. On board HMS Hogue William was in charge of a group of six inch guns and was present at the Battle of Heligoland Bight.

The Hogue was sunk by a U-boat on 22nd September 1914 along with her sister ships Aboukir and Cressy. From the three ships, 837 were rescued and 1,459 enlisted men were lost, 48 were from the Hogue.

William was engaged to Miss Townsend, Timaru, Sunningdale Road, Bickley. His cousins Alfred James, Thomas William, William John and George Anderson also died.