PARAS Anderson, Gilbert

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • 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.
 
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