Private Charles Joseph Anderson, the son of James Anderson and Louisa Anderson (nee Humphries), was born at London in England on 10th July 1905. He was educated at the Toowoomba Grammar School. At the age of 34 years and 4 months he voluntarily enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Toowoomba on 19th November 1939 after swearing the statutory oath that he would serve for the duration of the war and an additional twelve months. At the time of his enlistment he was unmarried, employed as a Labourer and residing at Erin Grove, Miles, Queensland. He had no previous military experience. His physical description at the time of enlistment was that he had fair hair and blue eyes. He stated that he was of the Church of England religion. He gave his next of kin as his mother, Mrs L. Anderson, 14 Chargeable Lane, Plaistow, London, England.
Private Charles Anderson was allotted the regimental number of QX1376 and allocated to the Depot Company at the Redbank Camp in Queensland. He was transferred to the 2nd/5th Field Regiment at Redbank on 4th January 1940. He was promoted as a Specialist (Group 3) on 12th January 1940 whilst serving at Ingleburn in New South Wales. He joined the 2nd/5th Field Regiment at Liverpool in New South Wales on 18th March 1940 and was promoted to the rank of Specialist (Group 2) on 14th April 1940.
Private Charles Anderson embarked for overseas service from the port of Sydney in New South Wales on 5th June 1940 and he disembarked from the ship at Gourock in Scotland on 17th June 1940. He was transferred from the 1st Anti-Tank Regiment to the 70th Battalion on 27th June 1940. He embarked for overseas service in the Middle East with the 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion on 3rd January 1941. During the voyage he was a patient in the ship’s hospital suffering from gastritis during the period 27th January until 30th January 1941. He disembarked from the ship in the Middle East on 9th March 1941.
Private Charles Anderson attended a 25th Infantry Brigade Cooking School during the period 24th February until 5th April 1941 and upon completion of his training he was graded a Group 2 (Cook). He was evacuated to the 1st Australian Corps Rest Station suffering from debility on 18th August 1941 and he remained a patient there until 27th August 1941 when he rejoined the 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Field Bakery and was graded as a Trade Group 2 (Baker) on 25th January 1942.
Private Charles Anderson embarked from the Middle East on 30th January 1942 for return to Australia to meet the Japanese threat. He disembarked from the ship at Adelaide in South Australia on 24th March 1942. His unit was redesignated the 2nd/2nd Australian Field Bakery in Australia. He embarked from Townsville for overseas service in New Guinea on 20th March 1943. He was admitted to the 10th Australian Field Hospital suffering from Malaria on 15th April 1943 and he died from his illness later that day. He was buried in the Oro Bay Cemetery on 16th April 1943. His remains were reburied in the Soputa War Cemetery on 27th September 1943 and were finally laid to rest in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery after the war.
Private Charles Anderson’s name is commemorated on Panel No. 79 at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. His headstone in the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery contains the family inscription, “Peace, Perfect Peace”. For his service during World War 2 he probably had entitlement for the 1939/1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Pacific Star, the War Medal and the Australian Defence Medal 1939/1945.
