Anderson, Silas
1891 Private Silas Anderson - 28th Battalion AIF
Silas Anderson was born on 16th March 1888 in Fremantle Western Australia to Alfred and Emily Anderson. He had three siblings, Percy (1890), Albertina (1894) and Alfred (1900).
The family initially lived King Street East Fremantle before moving to 172 Hampton Road (later renumbered 98 Hampton). During this time Silas was working for Fremantle Municipal Council. Sadly in 1911 Silas's younger brother Percy died.
Silas then moved to 152 Hubble Street East Fremantle in 1915 and then 125 King Street (Later renumbered to 63 King Street) and his father was still living here when Silas enlisted.
On the 25th June 1915 Silas enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 & 3/4 inches tall;
Weight - 130lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;
Complexion - Dark;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - dark;
Distinctive marks - Tattoos- Man and P Anderson on left upper arm; Girl and clasped hands and heart on left fore arm; flags and ship right upper arm, snake and pierced heart, girl reclining and another girl right fore arm.
Upon his successful enlistment, Silas was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion.
He trained with this group in WA for the next few months but their embarkation orders soon came through and Silas embarked from Fremantle aboard the HMAT Anchises on the 2nd September 1915.
Silas arrived in Egypt just over three weeks later but he hardly had any time there as he was quickly packed off to the Dardanelles. Even though the 28th Battalion had arrived after the August battles they were losing a steady stream of men to sickness and Turkish fire so reinforcements were needed.
Silas arrived at Anzac on the 12th October 1915. The 28th Battalion were stationed in the northern sector at Cheshire Ridge. Silas survived the last few months of the Gallipoli campaign and evacuated with his battalion in December 1915. They then returned to Egypt in January 1916.
Silas and the 28th Battalion only had tow more months in Egypt as on the 16th March 1916 they departed for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916. After being disembarked Silas and his unit were entrained for Northern France. They would be sent to the Armentieres sector where they would have their first experience of the Western Front.
From April to June 1916 the 28th Battalion were in the line near Bois Greiner and Fleurbaix. On the 21st May 1916 Silas was wounded when shrapnel struck him in the leg. He was evacuated to hospital in France but after a week was shipped to England where he was then admitted to the 3rd Northern General Hospital. It was a serious wound and he remained in hospital for the next few months.
Silas was only released from hospital in October 1916. He was then sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. He spent the next several weeks in this camp while he regained his fitness. On the 27th November 1916 Silas was then granted a two week furlough but he might have enjoyed himself a bit to much. After reporting back to camp in December 1916, Silas was diagnosed with venereal disease and was then sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. Silas remained a patient here until the 2nd March 1917.
He then returned to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. Silas then got into trouble for using a fake leave pass and was subsequently court martialled and fined 79 days pay.
After a few months at No.1 Command Depot Camp Silas it appeared Silas's wound meant that the medical authorities would not let him return to his unit in France. Instead in July 1917 Silas was transferred for duty with the Australian Red Cross Section at AIF Headquarters at Horseferry Road in London. Silas continued this work for the remainder of the war, and continued after the Armistice on the 11th November 1918.
On the 4th June 1919 in Bermondsey St Mary Magdalene Church, Silas got married to 18 year old Gladys Irene Marlow. (pictured above).
They initially took up residence at 6 Aberdour Street Tower Bridge Road Bermondsey London. A daughter Gladys was born in London in 1919.
On the 2nd December 1919, Silas, Gladys and new daughter Gladys boarded the transport ship Shropshire and sailed for Australia. The ship arrived at Port Melbourne on the 13th January 1920 and the family then had to get another ship to return home to Fremantle.
After arriving back in Fremantle, Silas was given a medial assessment at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle and was then discharged from the AIF on the 14th April 1920.
After arriving back in WA, the family returned to live at King Street East Fremantle until 1922. During this time another daughter called Gwen was born in 1921. They then moved to Moreing Road and then Swan Street Bicton (later Attadale).
In 1929 Silas became involved in a police chase of an armed suspect called Hall. Harry Hall, a pig farmer had shot and killed two men and shot and wounded another family, including the wife and children. The police chased and soon surrounded him.
As reported by the Truth newspaper;
A more matter of fact account was later published in the states newspapers, including the Great Southern Herald;
Whatever the truth of this tragedy was, Silas and his family were fortunately not to be among the victims. Arthur Hepburn, an ex soldier with the 43rd Bn, survived his wounds.
Silas continued working as a Municipal Council Employee through the 1920's to 1940's, with the family still residing in Swan Road
For a time during World War Two Silas moved to 64 Pakenham street (60-66 Pakenham) in Fremantle and remained there till 1949.
In 1954 the family returned to live at 2 Swan Road Bicton/Attadale.
Silas died on the 12th September 1958 in Attadale aged 73. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON A7 0283.