Pte 49488 William Anderson

• Age: 20
• From: Kirkdale, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 10th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Henin Crucifix Cem
  Panel Ref: A.34

William (Willie) Anderson was born on 12/06/1896  in Kirkdale the son of William Brady Anderson and his wife Jessie (nee Clarke) who married at St. John the Divine Church Fairfield Liverpool on 16/09/1895.  He was baptised on 29/07/1896 at St Paul's Church, North Shore, Liverpool. His parents were living at 44 Stanley Road and his father was a Butcher. His  father was born in Crewe while his mother was born in Bowden, Cheshire.

Willie was the first of 6 children his siblings were Jack, Dorothy,  Diana (died aged 5) Mary and Jessie. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 436 Stanley Road, Liverpool. The premises is also the site of the Butcher's shop. A children's nurse is also resident.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family are still living at 436 Stanley Road. Willie is the head of the household even though he is only 14. His siblings Jack, Dorothy, Mary and Jessie are present at the address. Willie is a student at Liverpool College.

Prior to the war Willie worked in the counting department of the Liverpool Echo.

He originally joined the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry as Private 1590 but he was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 49488 when he was killed in action on 10/04/1917, aged 20.

He now rests at A.34 in the Henin Crucifix Cemetery in France.

Henin-sur-Cojeul was captured on 02nd April 1917, lost in March 1918 after an obstinate resistance by the 40th Division, and retaken on 24 August 1918 by the 52nd (Lowland) Division.

Henin Crucifix Cemetery is named from a calvary standing on the opposite side of the road. It was made by units of the 30th Division after the capture of the village in 1917.

Henin Crucifix Cemetery contains 61 burials and commemorations of the First World War. Two of the burials are unidentified and eight graves, destroyed in later fighting, are now represented by special memorials.

The cemetery was designed by G H Goldsmith.

A report in the Liverpool Echo on 25^th April 1917 stated that,

“Private William Anderson was killed instantaneously by an exploding bomb in a recent engagement. His body was recovered and reverently buried with the rites of the Church, and an identification cross placed over his grave. Anderson joined the counting house staff of the “Echo” office in October 1913, and soon proved himself a competent and useful colleague. His genial and sunny nature endeared him to all, and his death is deeply regretted by the staff. He joined the Lancashire Hussars last year, and went to France in November, 1915. Finally he was attached to the King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. Willie Anderson was educated at the Liverpool College, and was twenty years of age. He was  the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Anderson, the Nest, Hawthorne Road, Bootle.”

His father died in 1936, leaving 2,579 2s 2d to his widow, Jessie.

William is commemorated on Bootle Civic Memorial, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bootle, Bedford Road Council School, Bootle, and Liverpool Collegiate School, Everton.

We currently have no further information on William Anderson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.