Cecil Charles ANDERSON

Cecil (known as Charlie) enlisted on 18 Jul 1942 and after training joined the 2/2nd on 24 Nov 1942, joining them on their return from Timor.

He embarked with the unit for New Guinea aboard  “DUNTROON” on 17 Jun 1943 New Guinea as a Trooper in No 1 Sect, “A” Troop and returned to Australia with them aboard “TAROONA” on 3 Sept 1944.

After leave and reorganization, he embarked for New Britain aboard “TAROONA” on 9 Apr 1945 with the unit as a Trooper in No 1 Sect, “A” Troop.

As yet his service papers are not available so a return date to Australia is not known.

He was discharged 6 June 1946 but re enlisted for Korea with Service No 2/7271 and served with 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, from 28 Sept 1950 to 8 Nov 1950. He was wounded in action on 29 Oct 1950. He returned to Korea from 16 May 1951 to 14 Jan 1952.

He went on to serve in Malaya as a Sergeant with 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment where he was Killed in Action on the 4 Mar 1956 and Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 30 Oct 1956.

Citation 

"On 4th March 1956 Sergeant Cecil Charles Anderson was commanding a patrol of A Company 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in anti Communist Terrorist operations in the jungle south of Kulim.

Whilst leading his patrol Sergeant Anderson was fired on at close range by a sentry from a hidden terrorist camp and seriously wounded. Sergeant Anderson immediately returned fire and then managed to crawl to cover, from which position he controlled the action of his patrol until the terrorists withdrew.

Although mortally wounded, Sergeant Anderson by his calm and courageous leadership inspired his patrol in its first contact with the terrorists and set the highest standard of personal courage."

The award was a posthumous MID, and the only other award available posthumous, is the Victoria Cross.                                                                One of his pallbearers was Ray Simpson, VC.

He is buried Plot B, Grave 67,  in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia.

He was entitled to the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal and Australian Service Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 45-75 with clasps "KOREA" and "MALAYA", Korean Service Medal, UN Korea Medal, General Service Medal 1918-62 with clasp "MALAYA" and MID Emblem, Australian Defence Medal.

More maybe available to him when his service papers are released.