Son of William Edward and Ellen Anderton of 93 Monkhams Avenue, Woodford Green, Essex
Second Lieutenant
4th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Died aged 30 years
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:-
ANDERTON, WILLIAM LYON, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt.; elder son of the Rev. William Edward Anderton, M.A., Congregational Minister, Woodford Green, Essex, by his wife, Ellen Anderton, daughter of John Tyrer, of Liverpool; b. Woodford Green, 17 Jan. 1885; educated St. Aubyn's School, Woodford Green, and Merchant Taylors' School, where he gained his colours for both cricket and football, and afterwards became a Director of the firm of George Anderton & Son, Ltd., Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. On the declaration of war, he enlisted as a Private in the West Riding Regtiment, 10 Aug. 1914, and six months later (--Jan. 1915) was given a commission in his own regiment. He was shot by a sniper, while going his rounds as bombing officer, at 4.30 a.m. on 21 Aug. 1915, about two miles north of Ypres, on the eastern bank of the Yser Canal. Writing to his father, Brig.-Gen. E. Brereton, Commanding 147th Infantry Brigade, said: "I am able to send you the following particulars:--I left my headquarters at 4 a.m. yesterday morning on my round of inspection. There is one corner where one has to leave a trench and be in the open more or less for about six paces, and then enter the trench again. At about 4.30 a.m. I came to this bit, and as I turned into the open found a small party with Mr. Law, of the 6th Battalion, with your poor son lying at their feet. They said: 'For God's sake jump in quick; they have sniped Mr. Anderton.' I saw at a glance his case was hopeless, poor boy. He was not suffering; of that I am sure, for practically the bullet had, I should imagine, passed through or near the brain ... I then proceeded on my rounds, and about three-quarters of an hour afterwards passed back, and found he had been moved to a first-aid post about 200 yards along the trench. He was still breathing as I passed, but quite unconscious. He died shortly afterwards, I understand. He died doing his duty nobly. As you know, he was bombing officer to his Battalion I knew him fairly well, and looked upon him as a very charming fellow, and an excellent officer." Other letters from his Company Officers and comrades unite in speaking of him in the highest terms. Gen. E. M. Perceval, 49th West Riding Division, wrote "Brig.-Gen. Brereton, who commands the 147th Brigade, told me that your son was one of his best officers, and I know that his brother officers and men were very fond of him." Lieutenant-Col. E. P. Chambers, Commanding 4th W.R. Regiment: "He was a most popular officer with the men, and everyone will feel his losson officers of his experience are most difficult to replace, and our Battalion is much the poorer by his death." And Captain W. F. Denning: "I was quite close to him when he was killed, at about 4.30 a.m., being caught by a sniper. He was shot in the head and never regained consciousness, and I am thankful to be able to assure you that he suffered no pain. We have been in perhaps the worst trench in the whole line, and have had a very hard and trying time, losing some good men, but I think poor Lyon's death was the last straw. I buried him on the canal bank in the afternoon, and we have put a cross over his grave, which adjoins the graves of other soldiers. I'm afraid no words of mine can lessen your grief, but I should like you to know how much we all loved him, officers, N.C.O.'s, and men alike, and how terrible it feels to miss him." He was unmarried. His cousin German, Major H. Lyon Anderton, 1/6th West Yorkshire Regiment., was wounded while attached to and in command of the 11th West Yorkshire Regiment, and is now (1916) on active service with the Expeditionary Force in France.
See also Findagrave memorial #207458497
Second Lieutenant
4th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Died aged 30 years
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:-
ANDERTON, WILLIAM LYON, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt.; elder son of the Rev. William Edward Anderton, M.A., Congregational Minister, Woodford Green, Essex, by his wife, Ellen Anderton, daughter of John Tyrer, of Liverpool; b. Woodford Green, 17 Jan. 1885; educated St. Aubyn's School, Woodford Green, and Merchant Taylors' School, where he gained his colours for both cricket and football, and afterwards became a Director of the firm of George Anderton & Son, Ltd., Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. On the declaration of war, he enlisted as a Private in the West Riding Regtiment, 10 Aug. 1914, and six months later (--Jan. 1915) was given a commission in his own regiment. He was shot by a sniper, while going his rounds as bombing officer, at 4.30 a.m. on 21 Aug. 1915, about two miles north of Ypres, on the eastern bank of the Yser Canal. Writing to his father, Brig.-Gen. E. Brereton, Commanding 147th Infantry Brigade, said: "I am able to send you the following particulars:--I left my headquarters at 4 a.m. yesterday morning on my round of inspection. There is one corner where one has to leave a trench and be in the open more or less for about six paces, and then enter the trench again. At about 4.30 a.m. I came to this bit, and as I turned into the open found a small party with Mr. Law, of the 6th Battalion, with your poor son lying at their feet. They said: 'For God's sake jump in quick; they have sniped Mr. Anderton.' I saw at a glance his case was hopeless, poor boy. He was not suffering; of that I am sure, for practically the bullet had, I should imagine, passed through or near the brain ... I then proceeded on my rounds, and about three-quarters of an hour afterwards passed back, and found he had been moved to a first-aid post about 200 yards along the trench. He was still breathing as I passed, but quite unconscious. He died shortly afterwards, I understand. He died doing his duty nobly. As you know, he was bombing officer to his Battalion I knew him fairly well, and looked upon him as a very charming fellow, and an excellent officer." Other letters from his Company Officers and comrades unite in speaking of him in the highest terms. Gen. E. M. Perceval, 49th West Riding Division, wrote "Brig.-Gen. Brereton, who commands the 147th Brigade, told me that your son was one of his best officers, and I know that his brother officers and men were very fond of him." Lieutenant-Col. E. P. Chambers, Commanding 4th W.R. Regiment: "He was a most popular officer with the men, and everyone will feel his losson officers of his experience are most difficult to replace, and our Battalion is much the poorer by his death." And Captain W. F. Denning: "I was quite close to him when he was killed, at about 4.30 a.m., being caught by a sniper. He was shot in the head and never regained consciousness, and I am thankful to be able to assure you that he suffered no pain. We have been in perhaps the worst trench in the whole line, and have had a very hard and trying time, losing some good men, but I think poor Lyon's death was the last straw. I buried him on the canal bank in the afternoon, and we have put a cross over his grave, which adjoins the graves of other soldiers. I'm afraid no words of mine can lessen your grief, but I should like you to know how much we all loved him, officers, N.C.O.'s, and men alike, and how terrible it feels to miss him." He was unmarried. His cousin German, Major H. Lyon Anderton, 1/6th West Yorkshire Regiment., was wounded while attached to and in command of the 11th West Yorkshire Regiment, and is now (1916) on active service with the Expeditionary Force in France.
See also Findagrave memorial #207458497
Son of William Edward and Ellen Anderton of 93 Monkhams Avenue, Woodford Green, Essex
Second Lieutenant
4th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Died aged 30 years
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:-
ANDERTON, WILLIAM LYON, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt.; elder son of the Rev. William Edward Anderton, M.A., Congregational Minister, Woodford Green, Essex, by his wife, Ellen Anderton, daughter of John Tyrer, of Liverpool; b. Woodford Green, 17 Jan. 1885; educated St. Aubyn's School, Woodford Green, and Merchant Taylors' School, where he gained his colours for both cricket and football, and afterwards became a Director of the firm of George Anderton & Son, Ltd., Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. On the declaration of war, he enlisted as a Private in the West Riding Regtiment, 10 Aug. 1914, and six months later (--Jan. 1915) was given a commission in his own regiment. He was shot by a sniper, while going his rounds as bombing officer, at 4.30 a.m. on 21 Aug. 1915, about two miles north of Ypres, on the eastern bank of the Yser Canal. Writing to his father, Brig.-Gen. E. Brereton, Commanding 147th Infantry Brigade, said: "I am able to send you the following particulars:--I left my headquarters at 4 a.m. yesterday morning on my round of inspection. There is one corner where one has to leave a trench and be in the open more or less for about six paces, and then enter the trench again. At about 4.30 a.m. I came to this bit, and as I turned into the open found a small party with Mr. Law, of the 6th Battalion, with your poor son lying at their feet. They said: 'For God's sake jump in quick; they have sniped Mr. Anderton.' I saw at a glance his case was hopeless, poor boy. He was not suffering; of that I am sure, for practically the bullet had, I should imagine, passed through or near the brain ... I then proceeded on my rounds, and about three-quarters of an hour afterwards passed back, and found he had been moved to a first-aid post about 200 yards along the trench. He was still breathing as I passed, but quite unconscious. He died shortly afterwards, I understand. He died doing his duty nobly. As you know, he was bombing officer to his Battalion I knew him fairly well, and looked upon him as a very charming fellow, and an excellent officer." Other letters from his Company Officers and comrades unite in speaking of him in the highest terms. Gen. E. M. Perceval, 49th West Riding Division, wrote "Brig.-Gen. Brereton, who commands the 147th Brigade, told me that your son was one of his best officers, and I know that his brother officers and men were very fond of him." Lieutenant-Col. E. P. Chambers, Commanding 4th W.R. Regiment: "He was a most popular officer with the men, and everyone will feel his losson officers of his experience are most difficult to replace, and our Battalion is much the poorer by his death." And Captain W. F. Denning: "I was quite close to him when he was killed, at about 4.30 a.m., being caught by a sniper. He was shot in the head and never regained consciousness, and I am thankful to be able to assure you that he suffered no pain. We have been in perhaps the worst trench in the whole line, and have had a very hard and trying time, losing some good men, but I think poor Lyon's death was the last straw. I buried him on the canal bank in the afternoon, and we have put a cross over his grave, which adjoins the graves of other soldiers. I'm afraid no words of mine can lessen your grief, but I should like you to know how much we all loved him, officers, N.C.O.'s, and men alike, and how terrible it feels to miss him." He was unmarried. His cousin German, Major H. Lyon Anderton, 1/6th West Yorkshire Regiment., was wounded while attached to and in command of the 11th West Yorkshire Regiment, and is now (1916) on active service with the Expeditionary Force in France.
See also Findagrave memorial #207458497
Second Lieutenant
4th Bn Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)
Died aged 30 years
Extract from The Roll of Honour, A Biographical record of all members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces who have fallen in the War, by the Marquis de Ruvigny, Volume I., The Standard Art Book Company, Ltd, December, 1916:-
ANDERTON, WILLIAM LYON, 2nd Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt.; elder son of the Rev. William Edward Anderton, M.A., Congregational Minister, Woodford Green, Essex, by his wife, Ellen Anderton, daughter of John Tyrer, of Liverpool; b. Woodford Green, 17 Jan. 1885; educated St. Aubyn's School, Woodford Green, and Merchant Taylors' School, where he gained his colours for both cricket and football, and afterwards became a Director of the firm of George Anderton & Son, Ltd., Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. On the declaration of war, he enlisted as a Private in the West Riding Regtiment, 10 Aug. 1914, and six months later (--Jan. 1915) was given a commission in his own regiment. He was shot by a sniper, while going his rounds as bombing officer, at 4.30 a.m. on 21 Aug. 1915, about two miles north of Ypres, on the eastern bank of the Yser Canal. Writing to his father, Brig.-Gen. E. Brereton, Commanding 147th Infantry Brigade, said: "I am able to send you the following particulars:--I left my headquarters at 4 a.m. yesterday morning on my round of inspection. There is one corner where one has to leave a trench and be in the open more or less for about six paces, and then enter the trench again. At about 4.30 a.m. I came to this bit, and as I turned into the open found a small party with Mr. Law, of the 6th Battalion, with your poor son lying at their feet. They said: 'For God's sake jump in quick; they have sniped Mr. Anderton.' I saw at a glance his case was hopeless, poor boy. He was not suffering; of that I am sure, for practically the bullet had, I should imagine, passed through or near the brain ... I then proceeded on my rounds, and about three-quarters of an hour afterwards passed back, and found he had been moved to a first-aid post about 200 yards along the trench. He was still breathing as I passed, but quite unconscious. He died shortly afterwards, I understand. He died doing his duty nobly. As you know, he was bombing officer to his Battalion I knew him fairly well, and looked upon him as a very charming fellow, and an excellent officer." Other letters from his Company Officers and comrades unite in speaking of him in the highest terms. Gen. E. M. Perceval, 49th West Riding Division, wrote "Brig.-Gen. Brereton, who commands the 147th Brigade, told me that your son was one of his best officers, and I know that his brother officers and men were very fond of him." Lieutenant-Col. E. P. Chambers, Commanding 4th W.R. Regiment: "He was a most popular officer with the men, and everyone will feel his losson officers of his experience are most difficult to replace, and our Battalion is much the poorer by his death." And Captain W. F. Denning: "I was quite close to him when he was killed, at about 4.30 a.m., being caught by a sniper. He was shot in the head and never regained consciousness, and I am thankful to be able to assure you that he suffered no pain. We have been in perhaps the worst trench in the whole line, and have had a very hard and trying time, losing some good men, but I think poor Lyon's death was the last straw. I buried him on the canal bank in the afternoon, and we have put a cross over his grave, which adjoins the graves of other soldiers. I'm afraid no words of mine can lessen your grief, but I should like you to know how much we all loved him, officers, N.C.O.'s, and men alike, and how terrible it feels to miss him." He was unmarried. His cousin German, Major H. Lyon Anderton, 1/6th West Yorkshire Regiment., was wounded while attached to and in command of the 11th West Yorkshire Regiment, and is now (1916) on active service with the Expeditionary Force in France.
See also Findagrave memorial #207458497
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