William Herbert Anderson was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 36 years old, and an Acting Lieutenant Colonel in the 12th (S) Bn., The Highland Light Infantry, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 March 1918 at Bois Favieres , near Maricourt, France, when the enemy attack had penetrated a wood on the right of his line and there was grave danger that the flank of the whole position would be turned, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson gathered together the remainder of his two companies, counter-attacked and drove the Germans from the wood, capturing 12 machine-guns and 70 prisoners. Later the same day, Colonel Anderson led another counter-attack which resulted in the enemy being driven from his position, but the colonel died fighting within the enemy's lines.

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• SCOTLAND'S FORgotten VALOUR (Graham Ross, 1995)
• VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.