PARAS Anderson, Gilbert

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Anderson ​

• FORENAME

Gilbert ​

• UNIT

11 Bn ​

• RANK

Private ​

• NUMBER

3606646 ​

• DATE OF DEATH

25th September 1944 ​

• AGE

21 ​

• GRAVESITE

Groesbeek Memorial,Netherlands Panel 8 ​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

born 1923, Mossley, Lancashire​

son of Thomas and Elizabeth Anderson, Blackpool, Lancashire​

attended St. George's Day School​

employed by Robert Hyde Backlet & Sons LTD and C.W.S. Dairies​

enlisted 1941​

1943 transferred to Airborne Forces from The Lancashire Fusiliers​

completed Parachute training on course 93 (December 1943)​

elder brother Thomas Anderson POW Singapore​

KIA Arnhem​

​

Letter from his brother Gordon​

​

GILBERT​

It is very strange writing this over you, my brother. Strange because I hardly​

had the time to learn to know you better. In the time that I came to know you I​

was realy too young to realize what was happening all around me. In that time you​

was already in the army but when you came home on leave you left very vivid memories​

with me.​

Those memories were all quite short. You always let me empty your kitbag​

and you took care to put something in it for me right at the bottom of it. When the​

sirens sounded we would go to the back door and pretend to shoot them German planes​

down, and you would tell me some of the things you and your pals had done in training.​

Boy oh boy you made me feel as if I was as big as you.​

Even after you had left us to go to Arnhem you tried to help me. Strange but​

you must have been watching over me because you contacted me in my dreams by​

'Onderlangs' in Arnhem, trying to reassure and guide me. I still feel that you are​

watching.​

After a while I did not know what further steps I should take in my search for you​

and then all at once more family and friends joined me. I do feel that you know this​

already.​

You might be listed as unknown but Gilbert you are definitely not forgotten. ​