Staff Sergeant S/2/016366 Herbert William ANDERSON DCM, MiD
Royal Army Service Corps
by Robert Simpson
Herbert William Anderson was born on 23rd July 1884 at Clerkenwell Surrey. His parents were James Edward Anderson and Emily Ains, who had been married 24th January 1880 in Holborn London. James had been born in about 1857 in Edinburgh and Emily in 1858 in Clerkenwell London. Emily’s father was a magic lantern maker in the 1871 census. In the 1881 census, they were living at 9 Gough Street Holborn. By the 1891 census, James was a scientific instrument maker and they were living at 37 Skinner Street London. Herbert attended Hugh Myddleton School, with admission number 1532 on 17th June 1897 and his father James Edward Anderson listed as living at 9 River Street. He was not exempt from religious instruction and his age was entered with the correct details. The previous school he attended was Anwell Street School, a public elementary school. He left that school on 2nd October 1897. In the 1901 census they had moved to 137 Stanhope Road in No 2 Shaldon Lodge. Herbert was listed as a Butcher and journeyman. By the 1911 census, they had moved to Medburn Villa Station Road Boreham Wood Hertfordshire. James was a general brass finisher, as was two of his sons. They had seven children; Norman James born in 1880, Ernest Edward in 1883, Herbert William in 1884, Walter in 1886, James in 1888, Emily Julia in 1891 and Gertrude Susan in 1893. Nothing else can be found about the family members after the 1911 census.
On 13th November 1914, he married Angelina Togneri in the Registry Office at Hendon Middlesex. She had been born 1894 in West Ham. Her father Domenico was from Italy and was a plaster modeller in the 1901 census and her mother was Alice. They had had a son, David George Anderson, born on 26th August 1912 in West Ham and listed as illegitimate in his service records. He passed away on 5th February 1919 of measles and pneumonia at Watford Hertfordshire and his death certificate has his surname as Togneri. A copy of the death certificate is in Herbert’s service records, showing he died at their address of 77 Gladstone Road Watford. It looks like he was adopted by Herbert. They had another son, Robert Herbert Anderson, born 31st May 1915 at Watford, but unfortunately dying in late 1921 in Watford. It is not known what happened to Angelina after that.
Herbert attested with short service (three years with the Colours) on 21st September 1914. He stated he had been born in the Parish of Clerkenwell, near the town of London in the County of Surrey. He was a British subject of 33 years and 2 months old and a butcher. Herbert stated he was married. He had no previous military service or any other issues. Joining at Aldershot as Private S/2/016366 in the Army Service Corps, and was posted to the Depot on 21st September 1914. He was at home from 21st September 1914 to 16th March 1915 with H Supply Company. His wife (and next of kin) was recorded as Angelina A Anderson at 36 Sutton Road Watford Hertfordshire. Their marriage details were recorded in his service record, as were both sons and their births. His apparent age was 30 years and 2 months, height 5 foot 4½ inches, weight was not recorded, chest measurement of 38 inches with a range of expansion of 1 inch, and he had a fresh complexion with hazel eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He had no distinctive marks recorded. After a medical examination, he was considered fit for the Army by the Medical Officer. He was appointed to the ASC on 10th October 1914. His medical history file has nothing recorded on one page and the next has all his details recorded and included his weight of 10 stone 8½ pounds, that his physical development was very good and he had 4 vaccination marks. He was vaccinated in his infancy and his vision was noted as good. The form was dated 21st September 1914.
The Army Service Corps was formed from volunteers in 1914–15. The ASC provided an important service in the production of bread and meat for the troops in the field. With Herbert, the “S” in his service number was for Supply with the “2” denoting recruitment into the appropriately numbered Kitchener (New) Army. The ASC was organised into units known as Companies, each fulfilling a specific role.
He was appointed Acting Sergeant on 2nd March 1915. From 17th March 1915, he was with the British Expeditionary Force with the 29th Field Butchery. He was with the BEF until 3rd December 1918, then from Egypt to Home from 4th December 1918 to 5th January 1919 and arriving Home on 6th January 1919.
While with the EEF as Acting Sergeant, he was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette on 28th January 1916. Another entry says 11th December 1915, which was the actual date that General Sir Ian Hamilton wrote the despatch submitting a list of the names of “men whose services I wish to bring to your Lordship’s notice in connection with the operations described in my despatch of 11th December 1915.”
The citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medal reads: “S/2/016366 Acting Sergeant H.W. Anderson, Army Service Corps (LG 11 Mar. 1916). For consistent good work on the Gallipoli Peninsula from May to September, 1915, when the depots and bakeries were repeatedly under shell fire.” His award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was recorded in the Second Supplement to The London Gazette of 2nd February 1916. He was one of six DCM’s awarded for Gallipoli for the RASC.
Herbert was on the nominal roll of 20 L of C Supply Company at Port Said on 20th October 1916. On 31st October 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant while with the EEF while at Port Said.
On 2nd February 1917, he embarked on Supply Ship Runic at Port Said and disembarked at Alexandria on the 11th for duty. He returned from Alexandria to Port Said on the 15th.
Herbert was transferred from 20 L of C Supply Company to Frozen Meat Supply at Port Said on 18th April 1918. He was appointed unpaid Staff Sergeant to complete Establishment on 4th May 1918 (assuming duties on that date). His War Pay was increased to 4 pence per day on 21st September 1918 and he was promoted to Staff Sergeant on 12th October 1918 while with the EEF. He joined the base of frozen meat supply on 1st December 1918. On 4th December 1918, he embarked on HT Caledonia for 3 weeks furlough in the UK on compassionate grounds from Alexandria. He was also granted 21 days ration allowance on that day. On 6th January 1919 he was retained in England on expiration of furlough and was struck off strength of EEF. He was despatched to the Dispersal Centre at Crystal Palace in York for demobilisation. William entered Egypt, as his first theatre of war, on 30th March 1915, as recorded on his Medal Index Card. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star in roll RASC/1B on page 393 as a Private and the British War and Victory medals in roll RASC/101B12 on page 1157 as a Staff Sergeant.
He was transferred to Class “Z” Army Reserve as Staff Sergeant on 25th June 1919 at disposal camp at Crystal Palace. His address was given as 77 Gladstone Road Watford Hertfordshire. His moral character was recorded as very good. A Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity (Soldier not remaining with the Colours) was issued to S/2/016366 Staff Sergeant Herbert William Anderson of 4 Supply Cal. RAMC (5) from the Record and Pay Office at Woolwich and the date stamped on this was 28th May 1919. His address for pay was 77 Gladstone Road Watford. It was recorded his year of birth was 1885 and he was Medical Category A1. The place to re-join in case of emergency was Blackheath and his Specialist Medical Qualification was Butcher.
Another form in his service records was titled Particulars as to the Character of a Soldier serving with an Expeditionary Force who is sent Home for discharge or permanently for any reason. The form for Staff Sergeant H W Anderson of the ASC showed he was employed as an NCO on shipping staff of his department for 3 years, his sobriety was very temperate, he was very reliable, and he was intelligent. For special aptitude for civilian life, the CO wrote “as a butcher by trade has had considerable experience in handling frozen meat.” He also wrote “One of the best NCO’s I had ever had under me.” Herbert also had a good power of command and control, and was tactful in his way of handling men. It was signed on 14th January 1919 by the Commanding Officer at Port Said. A disability form was filled out and showed he was with H Supply Company, he was examined by a doctor on 27th May 1919 at York and no disabilities were recorded.
In early 1922, Herbert married Eva Clara Stapleton in Stapleton, Watford Hertfordshire. Eva had been born on 28th September 1887, but no other details can be found for her. AN Eva Stapleton was born in the June quarter of 1888 in Freebridge, with her mother’s maiden name as Lynn. More documentation is needed to confirm if she is the same person.
Herbert was living at Watford Hertfordshire in the 1939 Register, with Eva, at 32 Regent Street. He was listed as a meat salesman and she was doing unpaid home duties. A Gordon Watson, born 20th November 1916, was also listed with them and he was a van driver. What his relation to them is, if any, is not known.
Herbert passed away in the June quarter of 1969 in Watford Hertfordshire England. Eva died on 20th March 1973 in Greenbanks Road Watford and left £1924.
His medals are Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with oak leaf. The medals are on display at the Maryborough Colonial and Military Museum. The museum is looking for a photo of Herbert.
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.
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