Private John Anderson

Private John Hall Anderson, 11th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in action in France, aged 35, on 12th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras and is buried in Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Arras, France. He fell in the costly attack on the infamous Chemical Works north of Roeux which in full view of the enemy and without artillery support failed with heavy casualties of 161 Officers and Other Ranks killed or wounded. After this the Battalion was relieved and did not return to action until May. Private Anderson was born in Stow and before enlisting he had worked in Edinburgh in the grocery and wine trade. He had originally enlisted in the Scottish Rifles in Edinburgh before being posted to the Royal Scots. ( “Soldiers Died” lists him in the 11th Battalion whilst the C.W.G.C. site lists the 9th Battalion). The photo shows troops and a tank in a captured village near Arras.

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