The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject: Grenadier Guards

David Anderson is listed on Denny Cemetery Memorial, Denny Town Memorial (identical plaques) and Denny Old Parish Church as serving in the Grenadier Guards - can anyone find him for me please??

He is listed in the original Denny and Dunipace Roll of Honour as having the number 23287, enlisting in March 1915 and address given as 'Lochlea'.

The nearest I can find is:

Name: ANDERSON, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
Unit Text: 157th Coy.
Date of Death: 30/11/1917
Service No: 120603
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 55.
Memorial: JERUSALEM MEMORIAL

Surname ANDERSON
Firstname David
Service Number 3937
Date Death 30/11/1917
Place of birth Denny Stirlingshire
Other latterly 120603 Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).
SNWM roll THE HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Rank Pte
Theatre of death Egypt.

Service Number 120603
Date Death 30/11/1917
Place of birth Denny Stirlingshire
Other formerly 3937, H.L.I.
SNWM roll MACHINE GUN CORPS
Rank Pte
Theatre of death Egypt.

This David is listed on a Family Gravestone in Denny Cemetery as being the son of John Anderson but is it the same man and why would he be listed as Grenadier Guards . . . . . . ? Confused

There's also a David Anderson listed on Dunipace Parish Church Memorial but there's no indication of rank or regiment.

Anne

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Hi Anne,

The number and date certainly appear to fit for enlistment into the Grenadier Guards.

Perhaps he was transferred/discharged from the Guards and ended up in the HLI. You would then need to check the likely enlistment date for 3937 H.L.I. for any possible overlap of dates. This could be a bit trickier since there were three territorial HLI battalions in the 157th Brigade - it isn't always a straightforward matter to work out which series of numbers belongs to which battalion. I will see if I can come up with anything from the HLI Silver War Badge rolls.

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

apanderson · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks Stuart - that would be great - I'm going round in ever decreasing circles with this man! Rolling Eyes

I've been searching through Ancestry without much luck but I'm not that familiar with the search facility and I'm probably not doing things I should be.

I'll put him 'oh-hold' just now.

Anne

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

3937 David Anderson, HLI

5th HLI
3916 17.08.15
3996 03.09.15

6th HLI
3871 12.10.15
4028 17.11.15

7th HLI
3767 16.08.15
4046 16.11.15

This doesn't throw any light on the specific HLI battalion in which he served but it does show that he could have enlisted with the Grenadier Guards in March 1915 and either been transferred to the HLI later in the year, or discharged with sufficient time for him to re-enlist.

I hope this is a little help.

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

A little update - we can eliminate the 5th Bn. since there is an MIC for 3937/201438 Robert McBain, 5th HLI.

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

apanderson · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:21 pm Post subject:

If we presume the info from SNWM in my initial post is correct and does refer to the same man, he went from the H.L.I. to M.G.C. Confused

Anne

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Whether the above man is the same man or not, 3937 David Anderson, HLI did transfer from the HLI to the MGC. The usual scenario is that he would have been a trained gunner in his Battalion's machine gun section and was transferred to his Brigade's MG Company i.e. he was in one of the HLI battalions within 157th Brigade of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, so would have transferred to the 157th MG Coy.

STOP PRESS: the man you are looking for is David George Marcus Anderson: CWGC and MIC. According to ScotlandsPeople index, he was born in Denny in 1895.

I assumed that you had searched for the Grenadier Guards details and found no trace.

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

apanderson · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject:

Well done Stuart - Gold Star for you!

I actually found the 1901 Census return for this David earlier tonight and held on to it 'just in case'!

Father: John Anderson, Head, born Dunipace, Civil Service Postmaster, age 32
Mother: Anna Anderson, wife, born Germany, age 31
Margaret Anderson, born Denny, age 7
David Anderson, born Denny, age 5
Elrich Anderson born Denny, age 4
Graham Anderson born Denny, age 1

All living at 'Bumenan' Cottage.

Thanks for the 2 links Stuart - I can go to bed now that another one of my mysteries has been solved, well the only mystery is what exacly 'Bumeman' Cottage actually is!

Anne