b. 25/12/1902 Swindon, Wiltshire. d. 31/07/1986 Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 25/07/1938 Shanghai, China.
Frederick Christie Anderson (1902-1986) was born on Christmas Day 1902 at 17 Lethbridge Road in Swindon, Wiltshire. His parents were Horace Anderson, a Friendly Society Inspector and Alice Maud Dickinson. He was born with the middle name Christie, but following his naval career, he adopted the middle name of John. He attended Aberdare County School, Glamorgan, before enlisting in the Royal Navy on 6th January 1918 aged just 15. He married Olive Purkis in 1924 in Portsmouth and they had a son and a daughter.
Frederick C Anderson GC
In December 1925, he volunteered for Sub Service and a year later was posted to HM Sub E48 on the China Station. On the 25th July 1938 he was in Shanghai, China, when a Chinese gunman fired on an inspector of the Salt Revenue Office, wounding him. Anderson and Detective Sergeant Hillhouse gave chase. The would-be assassin the fired on a Chinese police officer, who, falling to the ground, fired one shot at the assailant, with effect. Anderson and Hillhouse closed in on the gunman. Anderson was slightly in front, which meant Hillhouse was unable to fire. Anderson then jumped on to the back of the assailant and began grappling with him; he, however, managed to fire another round, grazing Hillhouse’s leg. When Hillhouse was able to move into position, he fired two shots at the assailant, who then dropped his pistol and was arrested.
Anderson was awarded the EGM (gazetted on 8th June 1939). His medal was exchanged for a George Cross in 1940, just prior to Anderson joining HM Sub Umbra on Mediterranean patrols. He was wounded during an air raid on Malta in 1942 before returning to general naval service later that year. In May 1943 he was awarded the DSM for service on HM Sub Umbra. In 1946, he retired from the Navy and became the Manager of the Power Station at John Summers Steelworks on the Wirral, and also served as a Special Constable in the Cheshire Constabulary.
Anderson died on 31st July 1986 at Astbury Lodge, Randall Meadow, Ellesmere Port. He is buried with his wife in St Paul’s Churchyard, Little Sutton, The Wirral. His medals including his GC, DSM, British War Medal 1914-19, Victory Medal 1914-20, Naval General Service Medal 1915-62 with clasp “Palestine”, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star with clasp “France & Germany”, Africa Star, War Medal 1939-45, QEII Coronation Medal 1953, QEII Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, Royal Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal and Special Constabulary Medal and Bar are privately held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: HELD BY FAMILY.
BURIAL PLACE: ST PAUL’S CHURCHYARD, LITTLE SUTTON, WIRRAL, MERSEYSIDE.
SECTION F.
Acknowledgements:
Kevin Brazier – Image of the Anderson GC Grave in Little Sutton, Merseyside.
Richard Yielding – Image of Frederick Anderson GC at the 1968 VCGCA Reunion.