Current Information:

Age-36

Enlisted-Shaftesbury Street, Hoxton

28, Beatrice Road, Bermondsey

Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Riviere, France

58th Division arrived in France in January 1917 and after a period of initial training moved to the Bellacourt sector of the front a few miles south-west of Arras. On 24th February, the 2/4th London battalion of 173 Brigade moved into the front line there between Bellacourt Street and Osier Street

This was the time when the German Army was beginning their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line but there was still a considerable amount of shelling taking place. At 4 am on 1st March a patrol left the trenches leaving two men at the wire with instructions to guide the party back in by a pre-arranged signal.  When the patrol returned one of the two men left at the wire opened fire on them from ten yards. Five shots were fired and three of the patrol, one of whom was James Anderson, were killed.