Sergeant Cecil Charles Anderson MiD
QX37751 2/2 Independent Company
2/400081 3rd Battalion RAR
2/7271 2nd Battalion RAR
by Robert Simpson
Charles, an indigenous soldier
Cecil Charles Anderson was born on 16th May 1923 at The Gums in Queensland, according to his WW2 service record, on the nominal roll. Another record (of his grave) says 16th May 1924 at Proston, South Burnett Region Queensland. His Korean roll record has 1924 for the year of birth, but states he was born in Brisbane. His parents were Charles Cecil Anderson (born in 1885 in Scotland) and Lydia Myee Tripcony (born 1900). They were married on 29th October 1930 in Queensland. Cecil worked on the dry docks in Brisbane. He died on 6th August 1955 and is buried in South Brisbane Cemetery in Location 4A-472H. Lydia was of aboriginal heritage and the Tripcony family origins are from Cornwall England. Her mother, Mary Rose Rollands was born at Myora Mission, Moongalba, Minjerribah. Lydia was born on 14th December 1900 Couran Minjerribah. She was sent to Nudgee orphanage and then into domestic service before marring Cecil. One of Lydia’s brothers, Albert Tripcony, joined the AIF on 11th February 1916 as Private 5655 with the 25th Battalion and will killed in action on 3rd May 1917. Being in the Depression was tough to grow up in Queensland with the lack of food and money. From: https://www.stradbrokemuseum.com.au/sites/default/files/bob_anderson_screen_final.pdf “When a crane load fell and smashed his leg (Bob was quite young when this happened), the long term suffering resulted in his having to be institutionalised at Goodna Mental Institution Wolston Park. The accident created a great loss to the family.” It seems then Charles was raised in a Bundaberg orphanage, why he was removed from the family is not known. Cecil died on 6th August 1955 and is buried in South Brisbane cemetery. Lydia passed away on 17th December 1960 and her ashes were cast into the bay waters of the “Rainbow Channel off of Myora mission, near Moongalba.” They had seven children; Jellicoe, who died in childhood; Reg, born in 1919, served in WW2 as Private QX45191 with the 2/12 Field Regiment and was wounded, losing an eye and dying in 1988; Mary born 1923, also placed in an orphanage; Tom born 1925; Charles; Cecily born in 1928 and Robert Vincent Anderson born in 1929.
Reginald Anderson grave
National Archives Australia has two records, which are open but not online, for him and are at the Australian War Memorial: AWM88 AMF K/302 [Governor General’s Office, honours and awards file] AMF. Sergeant Cecil Charles Anderson 2/7271 1956 – 1956 903824 and AWM119 447 Immediate award of MID [Mention in Despatches] 2/7271 Sgt C C Anderson, 2 RAR [2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment] 1956 – 1956 5180171. His service records are also open, but not online. They are under ANDERSON, Cecil Charles [Q5158], 1941 – 1999, NAA: B2458, 27271, Open with exception Closed period (1988 – 1999).
His attestation form, dated 24th May 1941 stated he had been born in Brisbane with his residential address as c/- D. McK. Neal Grace Park Cabawin. He was willing to serve for 3 years in the militia, with the oath taken at Tara on 24th May 1941. Charles had been a station hand. He joined the 11th Light Horse the next day and was allotted to 3 Troop in B Squadron in Toowoomba. He had brown eyes and black hair. Charles was on part-time duty and had been allotted Army number Q8158.
A summary of his records notes he was with full time duty with the Citizens Forces, enlisting on 18th December 1941 as Trooper Q8158 with the 11th Australian Motor Regiment. Cecil had been born in Queensland, was a natural born British subject of 18 years and 7 months age (born 6th May 1923), a station hand, single and had no previous active service. His address was “The Gums” via Toowoomba. For Religion he recorded Methodist, he was 70 inches tall, weighed 165 pounds had an expanded chest of 39½ inches, he had no dependants and his next of kin was Matron Lewis of Margaret Marr Home in Wynnum. (Margaret Marr Memorial Home for Boys, in Wynnum, was operated by the Methodist Church. It officially opened 1 March 1924. Over 900 Queensland boys had spent time at Margaret Marr by the time it closed in 1973. From the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions it would seem that boys there in the 1940’s and 1950’s were not treated well.
In his application to enlist for service in Australia or abroad, dated 7th July 1942, he gave his postal address as PO, The Gums Qld. That was also recorded as his place of birth. He enlisted in Gatton and gave previous military service with the AMF 11th Light Horse. His next of kin and address were originally given as above then crossed out and changed to Mrs May Lewis Tingal Hall Wynnum. He was called up to full time duty at Gatton that day. His date of birth was changed from 16th May 1924 to 1923. He could not drive a car, tractor, heavy motor vehicle, he could not type, nor keep accounts. He had no qualifications, nor had he served an apprenticeship or had any certificates. He had no physical disability. A consent form for him to join was signed by E W Lewis. His parents’ whereabouts were unknown.
According to the WW2 Nominal Roll, Cecil enlisted in the AIF at Gympie on 18th July 1942 and stated he was living at Proston, a small town close to Kingaroy. His next of kin was listed as May Lewis. (Maybe Gympie should be Gatton or the other way around?) He was given the service number QX37751 and was posted to Guerrilla Warfare School at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria on 19th September 1942, before being posted to the 2/2nd Independent Company on 25th December 1942.
On the back: left “this was taken in Aussie during our short stay by the way! That’s Curley on the left”; right “One section Marsh, myself, Jim, Gentleman Jones, Col Ron Snowy, Mack, Shorty, Rube, Bill, Pat, Nick, Les and right to the for is Curl”
Charles was with the 2/2nd Independent Company in East Timor, fighting against the Japanese after they invaded and captured the island. They could not hold the airport they were defending, but pulled back into the island, from where they conducted a very successful guerrilla campaign. They built a transmitter and were able to contact Darwin. Australian navy ships then supplied them with supplies and reinforcements. After a major Japanese offensive against them and the locals, they pulled out in December 1942. They then were reinforced and reequipped at Canungra and were renamed 2/2nd Commando Squadron. In 1943 they were sent to New Guinea, where he saw extensive action until the Company was ordered to patrol an airstrip at Goroka in August 1943. Lieutenant Colin Doig, editor of the 2/2nd history recalls that “towards the finish of A Troop’s stay in the area Sgt ‘Bunny’ Anderson took out a small patrol with Tpr (Cecil) ‘Darkie’ Anderson and a couple of others and they ran into a disused Jap position and recovered a remarkable amount of material; they even got a Jap officer’s sword …They recovered many Japanese notes and charts and maps and notebooks … the patrol was practically the equal of securing a prisoner.” The Company then had 90 days of leave in Townsville after a year of service. They then went to New Britain in April 1945, and were supporting troops there until the end of the war.
From the Australian War Memorial: Members of the 2/2nd Australian Independent Company, which later became the 2/2nd Australian Commando Squadron and formed part of the Bena Force, in the Weisa-Waimeriba area, New Guinea, about July 1943, grass huts in the background. Identified is Trooper (later Sergeant) Cecil Charles Anderson, (standing second from right, later serving in Korea and the Malayan Emergency; he was killed in action in Malaya on 4 March 1956).
Left to right, written on the back “The Digger (Chas), somewhat bloated Bill, sad sack Smith, Gentleman Jones, and the old chap in front is a much beribboned friend who fort (sic) in France last war.”
“all the best from the Bar Room Mountaineers”
After returning to Australia, he was discharged on 6th June 1946 as a Trooper with the 2/2 Independent Company. After his discharge, he worked as a fencer, ironworker, brewery hand and on a trawler.
On the back of his attestation form dated 18th July 1942 is a statutory declaration stating “I, Cecil Charles Anderson, of 40 Nithsdale Street, City, Sydney, state that I lost my Returned from Active Service Badge (No. A335807) whilst holidaying in the Tamworth area.” The date of the declaration as 3rd June 1948. The badge was replaced with A380595.
His application to enlist in ARA/CMF for service in Australia or abroad form was dated 29th July 1950 at Victoria Barracks, and included his address as above, his date of birth as 16th May 1924 in Brisbane, with previous service as QX37751 Private in 2/2 Commando Squadron for 5 years. His present occupation was fisherman, employed by Cam and Son. His occupation was fishing from steam trawlers. He could drive a car and motor lorry. He was 5 foot 11½ inches tall and had no idea of his chest measurement. On the back of the form was a stamp with Next of Kin: Mrs L Anderson, 13 Kennedy Terrace, Brisbane. Mother. Educational Standard: attended State School and in red pencil 6th class. He had no civil convictions. His attestation form, dated 15th August 1950 gave his army number as 2/400081 and he enlisted at ECPD in Addison Road Marrickville. Other details were as for his enlistment form, apart from next of kin being Mrs May Lewis. His address was 40 Nithsdale Street Sydney. It was recorded on that form that he enlisted as Private 1 Star Australian Regular Army Special Force on 4th August 1950. His application to enlist in ARA/Regular Army Special Reserve/CMF at 19 NS Training Battalion Holsworthy South had he was born on 16th May 1924 in Brisbane, his address was 6 Lisburn Street East Brisbane and his highest educational standard obtained was 7th Grade State School. His present occupation was K Force and he ha previously served as Trooper QX37751 for 5½ years with 2/2 Commando Squadron (reason for discharge: demobbed) and Corporal 2/400081 for 3 years (still serving).
In the Korean War, he was given the service number 2/400081. He did two tours with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. One from 28th September 1950 to 8th November 1950 and the other from 16th May 1951 to 14th January 1952. Charles was part of A Company. “When it was almost dark, Charlie Green (Lieutenant Colonel) asked Bill Chitts (commander of A Coy) if he thought he could ‘grab that ridge before dark’. Bill answered yes and was told to go top it. Bill’s company were actually sitting in trucks on the sheltered side of the road in the rear of Lt Nordjstrom’s American tank platoon. Bill ran back to his company and passed the word to the OC of the American tank company and invited him to the party. The Yanks opined that it was no job for tanks and Bill told him to get the fornicating things out of the fornicating road and he’d do it himself, which he promptly did, and in the course of the exercise his company captured three or four enemy SP guns and the objective.” (Jack Gallaway, Last Call of the Bugle, St Lucia 2000 pp 92-3)
On back “to Betty & Curl a fine study of 2/400081 lovingly Chas”
Charles was badly wounded on 29th October 1950 at Chongju and had to be evacuated to Japan, then to Australia. He was badly wounded with gunshot wounds to the hip and abdomen. He was unlikely to be fit for combat for more than 4 months according to his medical report.
The 3RAR War Diary, 29 October 1950: (Australian War Memorial AWM 85-4-21)- At 10am on that date the “Battalion lead the Brigade advance on CHONGJU. At 1000 hrs, the leading elements of D Company had reached XD 8995.” At 1630 “A Company, commanded by Captain W.J. CHITTS and supported by two platoons of tanks, attacked the ridge north of the road at XD 934943. Again, determined resistance was met, but by 1730 hours, the objective had been secured. At Chongju area XD 9394 from 2130 to 2215 “A “Banzai” charge against A Company was dispersed by Artillery defensive fire and 3 inch mortar fire. Until 2300 hours there was periodic shelling of the Battalion area by a Self-Propelled gun, firing armour-piercing rounds. The fire was mainly directed along the road. Except for intermittent fire, the remainder of the night 29/30 October was quiet. During the day eleven T 34/85 tanks and two SU-76 Self propelled guns were destroyed. Of these, three T-34’s were destroyed by 3.5 Bazooka fire from A Company and the crew of another killed by a D Company Bren Gunner. The crew had abandoned their tank when a burst of Bren had set light to the auxiliary petrol tanks on the side of the tank. In all cases, the tanks were very well camouflaged, as the ridge was wooded with pine trees. Tank machine gun fire caused a number of casualties to A and D Companies. Over 150 enemy dead were counted the following day. The Battalion’s casualties were nine killed and thirty wounded.”
Also https://garriehutchinson.com/2013/11/13/sgt-cecil-anderson-indigenous-soldier-in-three-wars/ , which includes a story on Charles, his involvement in three wars and includes a picture of the telegram his Mother was sent after his death.
After recovering, he re-joined his unit in May 1951. Charles was probably involved at the battle of Maryang San in October 1951 (a group of hills near the Imjin River). It was also known as “Operation Commando”. 3RAR was to attack Hill 317 (Maryang San) on 5th October, moving forward under heavy mist. At 10am, the mist began to lift, but the communists hesitated before firing, allowing them to capture the first line of defences after fierce fighting. The next morning they drove the communists from the top of the hill and repelled counter-attacks. Taking these hills was strategically important to the UN forces, but unfortunately later on they were lost. The official historian for the Korean War, Robert O’Neill, wrote of this battle: “In this action 3RAR had won one of the most impressive victories achieved by any Australian battalion. In five days of heavy fighting 3RAR dislodged a numerically superior enemy from a position of great strength. The Australians were successful in achieving surprise on 3 and 5 October, the company and platoon commanders responded skilfully to Hassett’s directions, and the individual soldiers showed high courage, tenacity and morale despite some very difficult situations, such as that of D company when the mist rose on 5 October and those of B and C Companies when the weight of enemy fire threatened their isolation of Hill 317 on 7 October … The victory of Maryang San is probably the greatest single feat of the Australian Army during the Korean War.” Charles was evacuated with fever on 14th November and had 3 weeks leave in December. On 23rd February 1952, he was placed on the unallocated list.
A course report, dated 5th September 1952 from the School of Infantry showed Charles did 4/52 ARA Junior NCO’s (R Aust Inf) Qual Course from 28th July 1952 to 5th September 1952. The aims of the course were to qualify selected candidates for first promotion to NCO rank in Subjects A, B and c of the promotion requirements for Royal Australian Infantry. Student 2/400081 Private C C Anderson of 19th NS Trg Bn R Aust Inf was number 34 on the course and qualified in all 3 subjects. For Subject A (Drill and Weapon Training) he received 54.3%, Subject B (Tactical Training) he received 72.0% and Subject C (Administration) he received 77.0%. Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hassett, CO of 3RAR wrote “This soldier should make a good NCO. His knowledge is good and he is an excellent leader.” He remained in the army as an instructor, mostly with National Service intakes.
In the form headed Proceedings for Discharge and dated 11th January 1953, his details were as before, but he was a Temporary Corporal with the 19th National Service Training Battalion. His overseas area of service was Japan and Korea, embarking from Australia on 7th May 1950 and disembarking in Australia on 30th January 1951, and again 4th May 1951 and 18th February 1952. With marks/scars, he had a gunshot wound scar on his abdomen. He served on continuous full-time war service in the Special Force in Korea from 15th August 1950 to 11th January 1953, a period of service of 2 years and 150 days with active service of 1 year and 172 days. He was discharged at Sydney on 11th January 1953, the reason being AMR & O 253 (1) on enlistment in the ARA. He already had a returned from active service badge issued from his WW2 service.
His attestation form for ARA/Regular Army Special Reserve form was dated 12th January 1953, which included his new army number of 2/7271 and other details the same. His next of kin was listed as his mother, Lydia Anderson of 6 Lisburn Street East Brisbane. It was filled in at Marrickville. His rank on enlistment was noted as Private 1 Star promoted to T/Corporal. He was single, had no dependants and other details were as before. For his trade after his WW2 service he recorded oyster bed worker. He was posted to 2RAR on 10 December 1954.
Cecil was also involved in the Malayan Emergency. The emergency had been declared in 1948, when guerrillas from Malayan Communist Party murdered some estate managers. Great Britain was involved when their High Commissioner in Malaya was assassinated. He was Sergeant 2/7271 with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. They arrived in Penang in 1955. They were involved in a long mopping up stage, patrolling and guarding rubber plantations in Perak which was one of the MCP’s main areas of activity.
On 4th March 1956, while on patrol in South Kedah, they were ambushed by terrorists and he was killed in action by Thomson sub-machine gun fire. When he was hit, he continued to give orders and fire at the guerrillas. Charles died before they could get him back to their base at about 4pm. He was the first Australian soldier to be killed in this action.
Ronald G E Betts, who was also in the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment for the Malayan Emergency in 4 Section 2 Platoon A Company as Private 2/7442 wrote a biography. He recorded that the battalion trained at Canungra in early 1955, with 12 weeks of jungle war training before going to Malaya. In the biography it went on to say: “Our first fatal casualty was our Platoon Sergeant, Charlie Anderson. We were carrying out a one day patrol on the 4th March 1956 on a search and destroy, when three C.T’s laying in ambushed opened fire with there old Thompson sub machine guns. Charlie received the full barrage of this ferocious gunfire; he died before we could get him out for help. An Infantry Sergeant is one of the toughest jobs in the world, and I still maintain to this day, that Australia lost a first class soldier and a fine gentleman on the 4th March 1956.”
He was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches in the London Gazette on 4th October 1956.
Cecil is buried in Christian Cemetery Taiping, Malaysia in Plot B.67. He is also commemorated on the memorial at Kamunting Road Christian Cemetery, Taiping, Perak. He was laid to rest there on 5th March 1956 and on 9th December 1959 the Army forwarded five photos of his headstone to his mother at 22 Stuart Street Collaroy. One of the pall bearers was Sergeant Ray Simpson (awarded a VC and DCM in Vietnam).
1. Inside the church Sgts Howe, Simpson, Syme, Travis 2. Bearer party carries coffin from church – firing party under Sgt Richardson on the right 3. coffin is placed on gun carriage 4. at cemetery entrance, coffin is lifted from gun carriage 5. led by Father Ganzer, the bearer party move into the cemetery 6. Bearer party Sgts Travis, Wiltshire Lowrie Simpson Syne Ewington O’Connell (hidden) Howe – right foreground, backs to camera, members of patrol 7. Father Ganzer conducts service 8. Sgt’s lay wreaths – Cahill, Finlayson, Symons, Cherry, Crowl, Bull, Roy, McDonald
In the Registration of Death form in his file dated 4th March 1956, C C Anderson a male aged 31 years died at approximately 4.15 pm on 4th March 1956 at Trap Serdang. The registration area was Kedah, sub-area Kulim. His usual place of residence was Minden Barracks, Penang. The cause of death was shot dead (operations) and Captain H T Cage MBBS notified the cause of death.
A telegram to his mother, dated 5th March 1956 read: “It is with deep regret that I have learnt that your son 2/7271 Sgt Cecil Charles Anderson was killed in action in operations in Kulim Area Malaya 4 Mar 56 stop I desire to convey to you my sincere personal sympathy as well as that of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia in your sad bereavement. Min for Army”
His mother is in the middle.
On 20th August 1956, the Military Secretary sent a note to Central Army Records Office to “immediately notify next of kin of immediate posthumous award of MID to the late Sgt. C.C. Anderson for personal courage in action in Malaya. Press release with approval given by the Queen.” The citation for his MiD reads: ‘Whilst leading his patrol Sergeant Anderson was fired upon at close range by a sentry from a hidden terrorist camp and seriously wounded. Sgt Anderson immediately returned fire and then managed to crawl to cover from which point he controlled the action of his patrol until the terrorists withdrew. Although mortally wounded Sergeant Anderson by his calm and courageous leadership inspired his patrol in its first contact with the terrorists and set the highest standard of personal courage.’ A typed copy of the citation also adds before “On 4th March 1956 Sergeant Cecil Charles Anderson was commanding a patrol of A Company 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in anti Communist Terrorist operations in the jungle south of Kulim.”
An article on him went on to say: “It is worthwhile pausing to recount a little more of the story of Charlie Anderson because he was the epitomy of the Australian soldier of his time. He was determined, brave, resilient and yet sentimental. Allegedly he quietly told a friend once, ‘The more I see of the world the more I’m convinced that the stretch from Collaroy to Palm Beach is the one on which God did his best job’. Back in Australia with plans to marry, Anderson decided on one more tour of duty, to Malaya. In letters marked by copybook handwriting his perception is obvious; he assesses the political future of Robert Menzies and espouses the need for a free Malaya governed by Malaysians. Anderson used to recite words from Adam Lindsay Gordon. As he lay mortally wounded in the Malayan jungle, giving final orders to his patrol, no doubt Anderson would have still endorsed Gordon’s lines: “I should live the same life over, if I had to live again.””
In the New South Wales Index to Deceased Estate Files, he is listed as a soldier and lived at Collaroy. The date of grant was 23rd May 1958. Collaroy is located on the Northern Beaches about 22km north of Sydney’s CBD. This area was originally part of Narrabeen but was renamed after the collier S.S. Collaroy ran aground on the beach in 1881 during a storm.
An article in a newspaper about him was titled “Fired as he lay wounded Australian army hero was a “born soldier” BRISBANE, Today. – A dying Australian army sergeant who calmly gave orders to his patrol to attack a Communist camp in the Bangsu (sic) jungle of Kedah was a “born soldier,” his mother said here today. The heroic sergeant was Cecil Charles Anderson, 31, of East Brisbane. His mother, Mrs. Lydia Anderson said today her son fought in the Second World War as a commando in New Guinea and Borneo and re-enlisted for service in Japan and Korea. While in Japan he contracted a fever which blinded him for three weeks. On his recovery he volunteered for service in Korea. In Korea, he was shot in the stomach, but refused to leave his mates although he himself could have got out. For this he was mentioned in despatches, his mother said. Mrs Anderson went on “My boy went to Malaya only last October. We begged him not to go; he had done enough. But Charles said he could not settle down to anything else but Army life. He’d tried working on trawlers for a while but he was only happy in the Army. He was a wonderful boy – a great, strong fellow over 6ft. tall and always so good to us all. The telegram telling me my boy was dead, came at 6.30 last night. I knew what it was without opening it. I had just put down the paper in which I had read of the fighting and although no name was mentioned I said at once, It’s my son. He was engaged to be married to a Sydney girl, Miss Peggy Morris, of Walker Street, North Sydney. They had been friends for nine years and were saving to buy a home and marry on my son’s return from Malaya. Peggy rang me last night. We were so upset, I don’t know what we said. His youngest sister is only 11 and she adored him. He had never spoken a cross word to her. There are three boys and three girls now left in the family”, Mrs Anderson continued. Mrs Anderson said she had to bring them up because her husband was injured in an accident in 1932 and never regained his health. He died last August. “We don’t even have a home. We are living in a flat at present but it is not suitable. We were recently evicted from a house we occupied in East Brisbane and have had three moves in a few months. We are desperate.”
Another newspaper article reads “DYING DIGGER LEADS MEN PENANG, Monday. – A dying Australian sergeant carried on fighting after being shot by terrorists while leading a patrol from “A” Company, Second Battalion in the Bangsu jungle of Kedah yesterday. Though unable to move from where he lay, the sergeant, from a northern suburb of Sydney, gave orders to attack the communist camp, then raised his rifle and joined in the firing. He died soon after from a bullet wound to the chest. The terrorists fled as the Australians charged the camp. Forty minutes later the Diggers got their revenge when a patrol from D Company sighted the terrorists, killed one and wounded two others. The dead sergeant, 31, engaged to be married, fought as an AIF commando with the 2/2 Independent Company against the Japanese in New Guinea and Borneo during World War II. Later, with the 3rd Battalion Australian Regiment, he was among the first Australian Infantrymen in action in Korea in 1950. Carried back through jungle It was a sad procession along the jungle trail as the Diggers carried their sergeant back 1000 yards through the jungle on a stretcher made of rifles and groundsheets. At their stopping point on the jungle fringe a padre knelt over the sergeant and pronounced the last rites. Commander of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, British Brigadier Peter Moore – who has three DSO’s and an MC – later praised the sergeant’s gallantry. “He did his ??? (there are a couple of places in the article where it is hard to read) in the best tradition of the Australian Digger”, he said. Burial with military honors The sergeant will be buried with military honors at Taiping cemetery this afternoon, alongside Queensland Sergeant Keith Ewald, who was killed accidently last month. Strong forces of Australians are now combing the jungle for the terrorists who got away. One wounded terrorist was shot three times and is not expected to get ???. The action began in the afternoon as an A Company patrol of 12 stumbled on the terrorist hideout in dense jungle. The sergeant was scouting 15 yards in front when two rifle shots rang out ?? He fell wounded. In agony but gave orders As the rest of the patrol moved forward to his aid the communists opened fire from hidden positions with rifle, carbine and Sten gun. Though in agony, the sergeant continued giving orders to section-commander Corporal A. J. Pickhard (NSW). “Bring up the Bren gunner and let ‘em have it. The rest try to outflank them,” the sergeant said. In a last effort he raised himself and with two shots joined in the Australian fire on the terrorists.”
There were other articles in newspapers, relating the incident, but excluding his name, which give similar details.
An article in Commando Courier Volume 9 No 103 of May 1956, starting at page 10, is headed “An Australian Hero Died As He Had Lived”. It was reprinted from the Sunday Telegraph NSW of 11th March 1956 and was written by Frank O’Neill. “I want to tell you about Cecil Charles Anderson, Australian infantry sergeant. I want you to grieve with me a moment. Charlie Anderson was shot dead leading a patrol in the Malayan jungle recently. Terrorists shot him in the chest. He was the Australian Army’s first battle casualty there. The reports say that he died a hero. And this would have given him a good laugh. I know how he lived, and how he suffered. I know how he found happiness at last, and how it died with him in a burst of machine gun fire in the Malayan jungle recently. At my home are his clothes, his books, and all his other personal possessions. He didn’t have time to amass much. He was only 31 when he died. There is a girl he loved for nine years, and whom he was going to marry. He was carrying their wedding ring with his identity disks when he died. He wanted to marry and have sons. But he felt what little luck he had was running out, and before he left he told his girl: “This time I’ve got to put my house in order.” And in a last letter he opened his heart and told us how he felt about us. “these things,” he wrote, “should not go unsaid.” He wasn’t emotional, Australian infantry sergeants are about the toughest people the world breeds. But often combat soldiers feel that the days are drawing in on them. I’ll tell you how they drew in on Charlie Anderson. He was a depression kid, growing up in Queensland in the days when food and money were short. He worked on farms, often for men whose hardness belonged to Dicken’s day. At 16 he joined the Army, and some time later – in December, 1942 – I met him. It was near Darwin, and he had come to join the 2/2nd Commando Squadron just as we had been evacuated from Portuguese Timor. For five days down to Queensland I lay sick and emanciated on the iron floor of a truck, and he, a stranger, nursed me. He lifted me about with his powerful arms, bought tins of milk coffee, heated it and poured it down my neck. And every time I said: “Thanks”, he’d grunt. We kicked on together through New Guinea and New Britain, and sometimes it couldn’t get any tougher. And always you’d hear his great rippling laugh and his deep, strong voice singing. After the war he came home with me and my parents welcomed him with open arms. He met his girl and told me “Some day I’m going to marry her.” He became an ironworker, a brewery hand, a fencer, a trawler-man with hands torn and bleeding after every trip. War came to Korea, and one night in 1950 he came to my wife and me and said quietly: “I’m going away tomorrow with K Force.” “Why,” I asked. “Why?” “Why not?” he shrugged. And later he told me: “You remember when we were kids and used to laugh about the weak ones who wanted rose covered cottages. “You’ve got yours now. “Some day I’ll get one and I’ll never leave it.” He fought in many actions, then they got him in the stomach with a burst from a sub-machine gun. Someone else told me that it knocked him into the air, and he came down swearing and fighting. Then they got him with some shrapnel. Mates carried him past another member of the old 2/2nd men going up into battle with the Third Battalion. This man replaced Charlie, and his head was blown off the same day. Charlie came home soon after with a hole in his stomach, but never thought it worthy of mention. Then he went back and fought some more, this time catching the dreaded Manchurian fever. Blood flowed from his pores, he went blind, and he dropped from about 14 stone to six or seven. He was one of the few men to recover from it – and he came back to us. He became an instructor; then came Malaya. “This is the last one, Boof,” he said. “I’ll save a few quid.” It was on this last leave that all indecision about his future resolved itself, that he and his girl agreed on no more soldiering; that they would marry the minute he came home. And he went away happier than I’ve ever seen him. He was going to buy a block of land near us, and the four of us were going to live happily ever after. He wrote from Malaya: “The more I see of the world the more I’m convinced that the stretch from Collaroy to Palm Beach is the one on which God did his best job.” Memories of Charlie Anderson hang heavy on the heart. We’re standing beside an open grave in World War II, and rain is pouring down, and water is lapping the blanket-covered body. “you know,” says Charlie, “I’d much rather die in Australia.” I’m dying in Yaralla in 1947 with double pneumonia and malaria combined, and he’s standing at the bed nearly every day, asking “what’s the matter? Are you getting soft?” We’re sitting in the kitchen drinking sparking burgundy, and he says: “I wish we had the power to grasp and hold the happiness of this moment.” He never waves flags or sings battle hymns, never wears uniform except in camp. He is taciturn, saying nothing to strangers, walking away from them – not because of moodiness, but because he walked alone for such a long time. He is kind, and clean in the house, washes dishes, mows lawns, speaks to women with almost mid-Victorian circumspection. We take a walk before he goes, and he says quietly: “Look after her.” We’re saying goodbye again, and I tell him, like always: “Keep your head down.” “You worry about your own great skull,” he says. And like always he raises his hand and says: “I’ll see you.” He goes, but tragic traces of him remain. His books are – Remarque’s “A Time to Love and a Time to Die”, Flaubert’s “Sentimental Education”, Gallico’s “Snow Goose”, Richardson’s “The Fortunes of Richard Mahoney”, and books of verse. And Wavell’s “Other Men’s Flowers”, with Adam Lindsay Gordon lines he used to recite: “For god undone, and gifts misspent, and resolutions vain, “Tis somewhat late to trouble. This I know – “I should live the same life over if I had to live again; “And the chances are I go where most men go.” There’s the ivory of chessmen he sent me from Malaya, the wedding and anniversary presents with his simple message. “Words Fail Me.” When the newspapers tell of his death, and before they disclose his name, men of the 2/2nd telephone me and say; “It’s him, isn’t it? I’m sorry.” Charlie was always thoughtful. He had arranged that we would know as soon as anyone. Small kids across the street tell you, “Sharlee isn’t coming back any more.” His girl goes through his trunk, finding little messages he’s left for her, tokens of a very great love. She weeps, and there’s nothing anyone can say or do that means anything. The campaign ribbons he never wore are there, lying neatly beside the civilian shoes he had repaired just before he left. They say that this was the death of a hero, that mortally wounded he placed his section, called up the Bren gunner. I don’t know how he died but I know how he lived., and I’m terribly proud that I knew him.”
In another article by Frank, he discussed some of them of 2/2 Commando Squadron, of which he was one, staying at Canungra and then fighting in New Guinea. Of Charlie, he wrote: “In that paddock I saw again C.C., who loped along the jungle tracks of World Ward II to fight and bleed in Korea, to go down fighting on March 4, 1956. He was the first Australian soldier to be killed in action against the terrorists.”
His full overseas service was: New Guinea 16th June 1943 to 8th September 1944 with 2/2 Australian Commando Squadron, New Guinea 9th April 1945 to 25th December 1945 with 2/2 Australian Commando Squadron, New Britain 26th December 1945 to 29th January 1946 with 29/46 Australian Infantry Battalion, Japan/Korea 6th September 1950 to 17th February 1952 with 3 Battalion, They Royal Australian Regiment, Malaya 8th October 1955 to 4th March 1956 with 2 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. He was promoted to Temporary Corporal 12th January 1953, Corporal 9th June 1953, and Sergeant 1st October 1954.
“Boof” was Nx50133 Private Francis Vincent Terrence O’Neill, who served in WW2 as outlined in a letter to him in the records the museum has and was entitled to four WW2 medals.
It seems Charles’ family knew him as “Barney”. From a family story “The four brothers (Charlie, Reg, Tom and Bob) spent their first and last time all together before Charlie left for Malaysia.”
Cecil Charles Anderson’s name is located at panel 2 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial. His name will be projected onto the exterior of the Hall of Memory on: Mon 24 December 2018 at 10:53pm.
Charles full medal entitlement is: 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-45 War Medal, Australian Service Medal, Korea Medal, United Nations Service Medal (Korea) and General Service Medal with clasp Malaya and oak leaf.
The colour badge represents the 2/2nd Commando Squadron (formerly 2/2nd Independent Company of Timor fame)
The Mothers and Widows badge 1939 – 1973
His wallet
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.