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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Anderson, Charles Groves Wright |
| Date of birth: | February 12th, 1897 (Capetown/Newlands, South- Africa)
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| Date of death: |
November 11th, 1988 (Redhill, Canberra, Australia)
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| Nationality: |
Australian |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Service number: NX12595.
Charles Anderson enlisted on 1st June 1940 in Paddington, New-South-Wales. He was discharged on 20th December 1945 with the highest reached rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
During the First World War he had already received the Military Cross.
Charles Groves Wright Anderson's grave, Nonwood Crematorium, Canberra, Australia.
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VICTORIA CROSS (VC)
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Rank:
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Lieutenant Colonel
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Unit:
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2/19th Infantry Battalion, Australian Military Forces
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Awarded on:
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February 13th, 1942
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Action:
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During the operations in Malaya from the 18th to 22nd January 1942, Lieutenant-colonel Anderson, in command of a small force, was sent to restore a vital position and to assist a brigade. His force destroyed ten enemy tanks. When later cut off, he defeated persistent attacks on his position from air and ground forces, and forced his way through the enemy lines to a depth of fifteen miles. He was again surrounded and subjected to heavy and frequent attacks resulting in severe casualties to his force. He personally led an attack with great gallantry on the enemy who were holding a bridge and succeeded in destroying four guns. Lieutenant-colonel Anderson, throughout all this fighting, protected his wounded and refused to leave them.
He obtained news by wireless of the enemy position and attempted to fight his way back through eight miles of enemy occupied country. This proved to be impossible and the enemy were holding too strong a position for any attempt to be made to relieve him.
On the 19th of January, Lieutenant-colonel Anderson was ordered to destroy his equipment and make his way back as best as he could round the enemy position.
Throughout the fighting, which lasted for four days, he set a magnificent example of brave leadership, determination and outstanding courage. He not only showed fighting qualities of a very high order but throughout exposed himself to danger without any regard to his own personal safety.
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Details:
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Published in The London Gazette dated 13th February 1942.
The award was presented on 8th January 1947 in Sydney.
Lieutenant Colonel Anderson’s Victoria Cross is publicly displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.
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