James Anderson was born in Bendigo, VIC and was a Labourer by trade when he enlisted in the 29th Battalion, A Company on 16 July 1915 at the age of 30. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10 November 1915 and served at Anzac during the second half of the Gallipoli campaign. After the Gallipoli evacuation he was transferred to the Camel Corps in January 1916. He was later transferred to the 4th Light Horse Regiment with which he served through most of the war in Egypt and Palestine. He avoided battle wounds but his file does carry a record of him having been absent without leave for a week in July 1916. His capacity to manage both men and horses, under challenging circumstances, earned for him a recommendation for a Meritorious Service Medal. No such award was ever made to him, but he was Mentioned in Despatches by General Allenby. He returned to Australia on the Dongola, reaching Melbourne on August 25th 1919.

Tree No 3867