Scotland's oldest war veteran dies...

**macwilkin** · 21st November 05, 11:59 AM

BBC is reporting this story -- May light perpetual shine upon him, and Lest we forget!

Todd

Scotland's oldest man and the country's longest surviving veteran of World War I has died at the age of 109. Alfred Anderson, who served with the 5th Battalion the Black Watch, died in a nursing home in Angus.

Mr Anderson was born in 1896 and was in one of the first British contingents to serve on the Western Front.

He was thought to have been the longest surviving veteran of the 1914 Christmas truce when British and German troops shook hands in no-man's-land.

For a short time Mr Anderson was batman to Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who was the brother of the late Queen Mother.

This special relationship resulted in a private visit by Prince Charles in 2002.

Mr Anderson, from Alyth, in Perthshire, died on Monday morning at Mundamalla Nursing Home in Newtyle.

The Reverend Neil Gardner, of Alyth Parish Church, said: "Alfred passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning.

"He was Scotland's oldest man but he remained lucid almost until the end. He was a very gracious and unassuming man."

Mr Anderson was 18 when he went off to war and saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the campaign.

He also saw the Christmas truce of 1914 when British and German troops climbed out of their trenches in France and walked across the mud of no-man's-land to shake hands.

He had a brief spell as batman to Captain Bowes-Lyon before his death at Loos in 1915.

Mr Anderson suffered a shrapnel wound to the back of the neck in 1916.

He had to lie in a trench throughout the day and was taken away for medical treatment under the cover of darkness.

His injury ended his active service and he spent the rest of the war as an instructor, finishing the war as a staff sergeant.

However, Mr Anderson continued his military service in the Home Guard during World War II.

Speaking when he marked his 106th birthday in 2002, Mr Anderson said: "We lived for each day during the war. At 106, I do much the same again."

Mr Anderson was born in Dundee and was one of six children.

His father had a building and joinery business which Mr Anderson took charge of after the war.

The widower, who had five children, said he had lost count of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

'Quick wit'

In 1998 Mr Anderson was awarded France's highest military honour - the Légion d'Honneur - for his services during WWI.

Neil Griffiths, of the Royal British Legion of Scotland, said: "Alfred was a fine old soldier who was a brilliant example of old world courtliness.

"Everyone who met him was always impressed by his vitality and great pride in his personal appearance.

"He was gentle and very humorous, with a quick wit. He used to say until recently that his ambition was to die shot in bed by a jealous lover.

"But I think also there was a great sadness in his heart that he had outlived his generation - all his friends had died."

The government minister with responsibility for veterans, Don Touhig said Mr Anderson's death was "a great loss".

"Not only is he believed to be the longest surviving Scottish WWI veteran but he is also thought to be the last survivor of the 1914 Christmas truce.

"The sacrifices made and remarkable bravery displayed by Mr Anderson and his comrades is a lesson for us all."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...nd/4456234.stm

Published: 2005/11/21 12:21:23 GMT

© BBC MMV

**Archangel** · 21st November 05, 12:40 PM

Stanley Weintraub wrote a fascinating account of the Christmas truce called Silent Night. Unfortunately, none of the above names are referenced.
BTW, I'm weak on this but isn't the unit referenced in the article a WW2 unit?

**Prester John** · 21st November 05, 12:47 PM

May his memory be eternal.

**macwilkin** · 21st November 05, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Archangel

Stanley Weintraub wrote a fascinating account of the Christmas truce called Silent Night. Unfortunately, none of the above names are referenced.
BTW, I'm weak on this but isn't the unit referenced in the article a WW2 unit?

It appears that the 5th Battalion was indeed a WWI battalion:

http://vzone.virgin.net/ian.edwards2/bwmain.htm

Weintraub's book is good; The History Channel a couple of years ago did a very well-done documentary about the Christmas truce with quite a few kilted reenactors that I show to my history classes during the First World War unit. One of my favourite songs about WWI is "Christmas in the Trenches"; The tenor John McDermott does a particularly haunting version on his CD "Remembrance".

Cheers,

Todd

**Schultz** · 21st November 05, 01:18 PM

Blessed repose and eternal memory!

I've always thought the ultimate in cool would be to have the ability to say to someone "I lived in three different centuries".

**Graham** · 21st November 05, 02:57 PM

Tasmania lost it's last WW1 fighter recently also. I think he was also well over 100.

Amazing, I'm guessing both had strong faith and family ties plus a good sense of humour.
These factors often go with longevity.

**Mike n NC** · 21st November 05, 05:59 PM

As the lights of thier presence is gradually extinguished the light of the freedom they gave the world grows ever brighter. Rest in peace Grandfather, rest in peace my Brothers, rest in peace Alfred Anderson.

Mike