Eric Anderson (VC)

Eric Anderson (15 September1915–6 April 1943) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born in Fagley, near Bradford in West Yorkshire, the only son of George and Mary Anderson. He became a driver for a building and contracting firm in Idle, West Yorkshire .cite book|first = Derek A J|last=Lister|title=Bradford's Own|year=2004|publisher=Sutton|id=ISBN 0-7509-3826-9]

He was 27 years old, and a private in the 5th Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 April 1943 on the Wadi Akarit, Tunisia, when a company of The East Yorkshire Regiment had to withdraw temporarily behind the crest of a hill, Private Anderson, a stretcher-bearer, went forward alone through heavy fire to rescue the wounded. Three times he brought in wounded comrades, and was rendering first aid to a fourth when he was mortally wounded.

He was buried in the War Cemetery in Sfax in southern Tunisia.His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire Museum "(York, England)".

References

*British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggtunisi.htm Burial location of Eric Anderson] "Tunisia"
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccpowreg.htm Location of Eric Anderson's Victoria Cross] "Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire Museum"