Robert  ‘Rocky’ Anderson was born 17/01/19 in Keithly, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of Robert and Rebecca Anderson of 12 Harvey St., Chatham. Robert Sr., a member of the CEF, had married and thought of staying in the UK. In 1920, now with ten month old Rocky, the family immigrated to Canada, eventually settling in Chatham, ON. at 12 Harvey St. Robert Sr. passed away in 1927, leaving Rebecca with Robert Jr. and two sisters; Jean and Margaret. 

Robert attended Central School and then Chatham Vocational School. Later in life, he worked as a baker, truck driver, motor mechanic, and up to his enlistment, he worked at Goodison’s Fishery. Robert was also reported to be an “enthusiastic athlete a member of football and hockey teams in Chatham”.  He was also a very good truck driver. 

Robert Joined the Kent Regt. Before the war broke out, the Kent Regt. paid 50 cents per night. Robert also joined the Boy Scouts; likely a good source of male supervision he lacked due to the loss of his father. While attending the Kents for military training, ‘Rocky’ acquired a familiarity with the military and the use of weapons; in particular, the Lewis Light machine gun.

In an unidentified newspaper article after Rocky’s death, it was reported that “Anderson enlisted in the Canadian Forces in September of 1939 and was one of the first men from this city to join the colours”. It appears as though he joined the Kent Regt. and he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Regt. in London afterwards to go overseas. 

He trained at Wosley Barracks in London and then went to Valcartier, PQ. ‘Rocky’ went overseas 18/12/1939, arriving in England on 30/12/1939. Due to the dire conditions of the country, he went to France for action as a Lance Sergeant with the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, R.C.A.C. He ultimately saw the shore of France at Dunkirk as one of the 338,000 evacuated from Europe.

During the next months in England while they tried to rebuild and re-equip the Army in England, Robert would have some free time during which he met a nurse Betty White and they fell in love. Sadly Betty would become one of the many victims of the German “Blitz” in 1940 on London.

After nurse White’s death Robert joined the commandos perhaps to help him forget the pain of losing his fiancée the training probably helped. In October of 1942 he became engaged to Eileen Mary Wilkes a Pte. In the ATS and they married the 16^th of February, 1943 in St. Paul’s Church Battersea, London, S.W.  England.  The CDN 10/04/43 had an article with photo of the happy couple. CDN 10/10/43. and would have a baby boy. [unidentified new article].

In August of 1943, while being part of “Operation Husky”, the invasion of Sicily and Italy, the “Soft underbelly of Europe”, Rocky was wounded, recovered, he returned to his unit in time for the capture of Rome June 1944 (D-Day in Normandy). On September 1^st 1944, Rocky’s platoon was ambushed by the Germans. Six  members survived the attack. L-Sgt. Robert Anderson died of gun shot wounds to the abdomen. Among his personal belongings was found one pair of baby booties; for his son.

His mother received notice that her son had been killed in action on the first of  September.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Supplemental Information

Age: 24, DOW, Date of Death: 01/09/1944, Reported KIA (actually DOW) CDN 12/09/44. Eileen and the baby came to Canada to meet Robert’s family 26 October, 1944. In and article in the CDN 9/02/45 Pt. John Giffin mentions “Rocky”; “We just knew him as Rocky and he was a grand chap, and well spoken of everywhere he went.” He knew Rocky had been killed, “and there was sorrow among all of his friends and he certainly had a lot of them.” Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. 13. Cemetery: MONTECCHIO WAR CEMETERY. Index of Overseas Deaths. {(P) C-K Museum}. ATNCB, CDN 9/02/45.

Age	24
Birthplace	Keithly, Yorkshire, England
When Enlisted	02-02-1942
Where Enlisted	London, Ontario

---

Notice something wrong with this record? Or, do you have something to add? Report it using our online form.