Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘German East Africa’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private E. H. Anderson, Indian Field Ambulance, South African Medical Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2213 Pte. E. H. Anderson. S.A.M.C.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (Pte. E. H. Anderson. S.A.M.C.); War Medal 1939-45 (118916 E. H. Anderson); Africa Service Medal (118916 E. H. Anderson) light contact marks, better than very fine (5) £800-£1,200

D.C.M. London Gazette 3 October 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty and coolness under fire when his commanding officer and six others were hit and he himself was suffering from high fever at the time.’

Edmund Herbert Anderson was born on 5 April 1895 and attested for the South African Medical Corps at Durban on 7 November 1916, and served during the Great War in German East Africa from 6 December 1916. He transferred to the B.120 Indian Field ambulance at Nakawa on 3 January 1917, part of the 1st Battalion Cape Corps, and was present in the actions during the raid by German forces commanded by Neumann in September and October 1917, and the actions driving the German forces out of German East Africa in November 1917.

On 26 October 1917 the 1st Cape Corps, 1,200 strong, left Lindi to march to Njangao with B.120 Indian Field Ambulance numbering 113; the march took 5 days. In early November the pursuit of German forces retreating from Mahiwa towards Nangoo continued with numerous bush rear guard engagements. Advancing again from Nangoo, on 17 November 1917 Captain Hill was wounded in the jaw from machine gun fire and it is believed to be that this is the action for which Private Anderson was awarded the D.C.M.

In November 1917, following the battle at Mahiwa with pressure mounting on Lettow-Vorbeck, the German forces numbering some 300 Europeans, 1,700 Askari’s and 3,000 native carriers evacuated German East Africa and invaded Portuguese East Africa, where they captured fresh supplies of medicine, food and ammunition. The German move in to Portuguese East Africa forced the Allied forces to follow, stretching their lines of supply to the limit. Moving up and down the Portuguese colony, inflicting several defeats on the allies, the German force crossed back into German East Africa in September 1918, finally surrendering on 25 November 1918.

For his actions in German East Africa on 17 November 1917 Anderson was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal under General Army Order 549 of 17 June 1918. He was admitted to the 2nd South Africa General Hospital on 10 March 1918 suffering from malaria, which he originally contracted in September 1917, and transferred to No. 3 British General Hospital in Nairobi on 10 April 1918. He returned to South Africa on board H.M. Transport Salamis, arriving at Durban on 11 January 1919 and being discharged there on 28 February 1919. His military character was described as ‘very good’.

During the Second World War Anderson served in the 3rd Natal Scottish from 22 May 1940. Promoted temporary Lance-Corporal on 1 June 1941, he was discharged as medically unfit on 3 September 1941.

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