An appeal for the family of a north-east First World War hero has been launched after his grave site has finally been identified 102 years after his death.
Gordon Highlander Private John Anderson was killed on April 28, 1915 whilst fighting in the trenches in Vlamertinghe area of West Ypres in Belgium.
His final resting place was unknown but, through research undertaken by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, clear and convincing evidence has been presented that he was buried soon after his death at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery in Ypres.
Now the JCCC is seeking members of his family or anyone who knew him to get in touch so they can be invited to attend a rededication of his grave to be held later this year.
Sue Raftree MBE, of the JCCC said: “We were in receipt of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial documentation for the Birr Cross Roads Cemetery which showed an unknown soldier of the 4th Battalion The Gordon Highlanders Regiment killed on 28 April, 1915.
“Further research showed that he was the only soldier killed from the 4th Battalion on that date without a grave. Therefore it could only be Private Anderson.”
Although his place and date of birth are both unknown at this point, the JCCC do know that Mr Anderson was single and the fifth son of baker James Anderson and his wife Annie. At the time of his death, they lived in Don Cottage in Port Elphinstone, Inverurie. Mr Anderson was a butcher with the Don Co-operative Society in Kemnay.
He enlisted in the army in Aberdeen between September 28 and October 30, 1914. He went on active service to France and Flanders in Belgium, landing in France to join his battalion on 26 March, 1915.
The Second Battle of Ypres was fought from April 22 to May 25 1915 and was the scene of the first mass use by Germany of poison gas on the Western Front.
At the Armistice, Birr Cross Roads cemetery contained only nine irregular rows of graves but was greatly enlarged when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields.
If you are related or indeed know of the family, contact Sue Raftree on 01452 712612 extension 6303 or email her on: DBS-JCCCCommem1SO3@mod.uk
