Duncan Anderson (1879 - 1918)

Born 1 Sep 1879 in Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Lillias Ford (McKinlay) Anderson — married 5 Jun 1908 in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 4 May 1918 at age 38 in Brookwood, Woking Borough, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

This profile is part of the Anderson Name Study.

Duncan Anderson is a member of Clan Anderson.

Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Duncan Anderson served in the British Army in World War I
Service started: Probably 1914
Unit(s): Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant in Lothians and Border Yeomanry, 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps.
Service ended: Probably 1918

Duncan's birth on 1 Sep 1879 at Belhaven in Dunbar was registered 13 Sep 1879 in the Dunbar district.^[1]

Duncan began working life as a potato merchant’s clerk, although served also as the burgh’s gas collector for a period.

Duncan Anderson married Lillias Ford McKinley at St Annes, Dunbar on the 05 06 1908. He was then a potato merchant’s clerk, she a domestic servant at Craigengelt for Major Wingate. The witnesses included ‘Louisa’ Anderson and Chrissie McKinley. Note that Duncan’s mother was now listed as Elizabeth Livingston Lavina xxxxx Anderson ms Dalziel, having gained a few new middle names, one unreadable. Duncan's marriage to Lilias Ford McKinley was registered in 1908 in the Dunbar district.^[2]

As a young man he joined the Haddingtonshire Artillery Volunteers, a sub-unit of the Southeast Scotland Artillery Militia. He became an expert markman and was placed often in competitive events. When the call for volunteers for the South African war (2nd Boer War) went out, Duncan was one of those selected from Dunbar. He enlisted in the 19th Company of the Imperial Yeomanry, affiliated to the Lothians and Berwickshire Yeomanry. He would have most likely arrived with his unit in South Africa on the 19th of March 1900.^[3]

Duncan’s service in South Africa ended in repatriation. As a member of the 6th Battalion’s Colt-gun section he was injured when his horse fell while clearing an obstacle in the field. Duncan was sent to recover at home. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal for his participation in the 2nd Boer War in the Cape Colony and Transvaal (the Orange Free State section was not ticked for him).^[4]

He transferred to the Yeomanry when he was fit. There, he was taken under the wing of the senior NCOs and became expert in regimental administration.

In the 1911 census we see he is at 12 Church Street, Dunbar.^[5]

At the outbreak of war in 1914 he was serving as regimental quartermaster sergeant. In 1915 he went with RHQ & B Squadron to France. He gained the MM, Croix de Guerre and was mentioned in dispatches before being selected for promotion. After an Officer Training Course he was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps.

Duncan was injured when a gas shell exploded as an ammunition dump was being moved; his recovery was impaired by effects of tuberculosis. He died on the 4 May 1918 in hospital in Woking, Surrey, England.^[6]

He left behind two small children:

• Duncan Anderson (1909-1969) - FamilySearch Person: G64L-PY4
• Mary Hilda Emily Anderson (1912-1967) - FamilySearch Person: GF96-27L

Duncan (age 37) was buried on 7 May 1918 in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Brookwood, Woking Borough, Surrey, England.^{[7][8] [6]}

Lilias subsequently took the children to Australia, settling in Brisbane, Queensland.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "Statutory Register of Births"
   National Records of Scotland, Ref: 706/ 121
   ScotlandsPeople Search (accessed 1 September 2022)
   https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/images/pdf/stat_births/stat_births-4557933_2098793

   Duncan Anderson birth on 1 Sep 1879 at Belhaven in Dunbar was registered 13 Sep 1879 in Dunbar.

2. ↑ Marriage Registration: "Statutory Register of Marriages"
   National Records of Scotland, Ref: 706/ 18
   ScotlandsPeople Search (accessed 1 September 2022)
   Duncan Anderson marriage to Lilias Ford McKinley registered 1908 in Dunbar.
3. ↑ Boer War Arrival: http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Regiments/ImperialYeomanryCompaniesBoerBn.html ; Sources: British Battles and Medals published by SPink & Son; Roberts Papers WO105/40; Imperial Yeomanry Companies of the Boer War by Paul Till, Orders and Medals Research Society Journal Autumn 1992; Imperial Yeomanry Missing Designations by Dave Buxton, Coin and Medal News August 1987; South African War Casualty Roll ; https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Lothians_and_Border_Horse ; https://www.johngraycentre.org/east-lothian-subjects/war-battles-military/the-lothians-and-border-horse/

   6th Battalion, 19th Company, County/Name: Lothian and Berwick, Arrival in 19th March 1900

4. ↑ Boer War Medal: https://www.angloboerwar.com/name-search ; Source: QSA Medal Rolls ; Reference: WO 100/122 Page 227 (Page 33 of 6th PDF) ; Description: WO 100. 5 and 6 Battalions ; Note: Vol.III ; Date: 1899-1902 ; Held by: The National Archives, Kew ; https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3763886

   Anderson, Duncan ; No: 8539 ; Rank: Private ; Medal: QSA Medal Rolls ; Unit: 19th Company, 6th Btn, IY

5. ↑ 1911 Scottish Census: Residence: 12 Church Street, Dunbar, East Lothian ; Ref 706 / 3 / 10 ; Census Search at Scotland's People

   Surname Forename Sex Age Birth Year

   * ANDERSON DUNCAN M 2 1909

   * ANDERSON LILLIAS F 32 1879

   * ANDERSON DUNCAN M 30 1881

   Above only listing Andersons at the residence

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #17661964 (accessed 1 September 2022)
   Memorial page for Lieutenant Duncan Anderson (died 4 May 1918), citing Brookwood Military Cemetery, Brookwood, Woking Borough, Surrey, England (plot: VI. A. 5.); Maintained by woowoo (contributor 49949980).

   Notes: Age: 38 ; Regiment/Service: Army Service Corps ; Honors: M M ; Son of Andrew William and Elizabeth Dalziel Anderson; husband of Lilian Ford Anderson, of 12, Church St., Dunbar. Served in the South African Campaign.

7. ↑ Burial: "England, Surrey Parish Registers, 1536-1992"
   citing Burial, , London Metropolitan Archives, England; FHL microfilm 1,751,647.
   FamilySearch Record: QGZT-RVGW (accessed 1 September 2022)
   Duncan Anderson burial (died age 37) on 7 May 1918 in Brookwood Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.
8. ↑ Burial: "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991"
   FamilySearch Record: CFRL-JB6Z (accessed 1 September 2022)
   Duncan Anderson burial (died age 37) on 7 May 1918 in Woking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: 99V1-RRF