ANDERSON Colin Knox

Educated at Malvern College.

Colin Anderson was born in 1888. He attended Malvern College in House 7 from April 1903 to 1908.

1911 Census
7 The College, Malvern, Worcestershire
Colin Knox Anderson, visitor, age 23, 2nd Lieutenant 3rd West Kent Regiment, born Rochester, Kent

As a Special Reserve Officer in the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, Colin Knox Anderson was among the first to leave his job as a Civil Engineer in Rochester and join his unit as soon as war broke out. The regiment was quickly sent overseas and on the morning of 23rd August 1914 the 1st Battalion were holding the line of the Mons – Condé Canal in the area of St Ghislain. “A” Company was deployed to cross the canal bridge at Tertre and provide defensive cover for a reconnaissance party of Cyclists and Hussars.

Unbeknown to them the German 1st Army had advanced more rapid than anticipated and the 200 or so strong A Company found itself facing two entire German Battalions from the German 5th Brigade supported by artillery.
The West Kent’s opened fire at about 500 yards range and although heavily outnumbered they were successful in holding the enemy on the other side of the canal whilst they made a fighting withdrawal back across the bridge.
Lt Anderson became one of the first British army officers killed in action in the Great War when he was hit, killed instantly by a gunshot wound to the head during this engagement. His body was left behind when A Company retreated across the bridge, but he was later buried by the Germans in what is now known as Hautrage Military Cemetery in Belgium.

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1918:
Anderson, Colin Knox
Lieutenant, 3rd attached 1st (50th Foot) Battalion The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Youngest son of G.K. Anderson of Bridge Hill, near Canterbury. D.L.: educated Malvern College: obtained a 2nd Lieutenancy in the 3rd Royal West Kent Regiment in December 1908, and was promoted Lieutenant 1st April 1911; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, attached to the 1st Battalion, and was killed in action in August 1914. He was a keen sportsman and while at Malvern was a member of the Cricket XI., also of the Football XXII., and later was well known in regimental cricket and with the Kent Amateurs, known as the Band of Brothers.

Anderson Colin Knox of 33 Star Hill Rochester died 23 August 1914 at Mons Belgium on active service Administration London 1 December to George Knox Anderson esquire. Effects £4716 8s 11d.