Anderson, William Theodore

William was born at the Black Eagle pub in Baldock on 12 February 1897, the eldest son of Henry and Ellen Craft (nee Allison, previously Spicer) Anderson.  He attended the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

William enlisted at Hitchin on 20 September 1915 as a driver with the 3rd Corps, Signal Company, Royal Engineers, giving his age as 18.  He was in fact only 17. In 1916 the Rev Webb of Ashwell wrote to William’s commanding officer asking on behalf of his mother, Ellen, that William be released from service as he was not yet 18, but the army decided he must be held to serve.

William served in Basrah and Margil in Iraq, and was posted to Poona, India in 1919.  He survived the War.

William was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Before enlisting he was a farm labourer.

William married Winifred Olive Bryant of Ashwell on 22 May 1926.  They had three children, a son, John, born in April 1928 and daughters, Mary, born on 2 March 1930 and Olive born on 1 November 1934.

William died in Ashwell on 15 August 1965 leaving his estate to his wife Winifred Olive.  He is buried in the St Mary’s churchyard, Ashwell, Hertfordshire with his parents.

The Black Eagle pub was run as a boarding house by his mother Ellen. When they left the pub the family went to Botany Bay Farm, Graveley, Hertfordshire. He had two sisters, Florence Rhoda, born on 6 October 1896 and Ellen Merlinda, born 26 January 1902. Both parents had previous marriages from which there were many children, and William grew up with two step-sisters, Daisy Spicer born 10 August 1886 and Louise Spicer born 12 May 1888.

William’s sister Florence (Worboys) was the Ashwell village postwoman for over 60 years.