Patrick Wright Anderson

Originally from Forfar, Patrick Wright Anderson worked for many years as a policeman in Yorkshire before returning to Scotland upon his retirement. During the late 1980s he began the task of researching the history of his uncle, Lieutenant Patrick Wright Anderson, who had died of war wounds received during the First World War. The collection consists of Patrick Anderson's (nephew) correspondence with librarians, archivists and publishers and contains articles written by him. Apart from researching his uncle's war service history Anderson also campaigned to have his uncle's sacrifice offically recognised. Because Lieutenant Anderson died after the 31st August 1921 he was not entitled to be listed in the War Graves Commission register or have an official 'war graves' headstone. As a result of the efforts of his nephew his name was added to the rolls of honour at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle, Dundee University and the Tayforth Universities Officers Training Corps building in St Andrews.

Patrick Wright Anderson was born in Arbroath on the 7th October, 1892. He graduated from Arbroath High School and in 1911 became a student at University College, Dundee, then part of St Andrews University. He became a member of the University's Officers Training Corps in 1913 and the following year, upon the outbreak of the First World War, he interrupted his studies to join the Black Watch Regiment. In 1915 he was appointed Lieutenant and served in France and Salonika before commencing training in 1917 with the Royal Flying Corps. In 1918 the Royal Flying Corps amalgamated with the Royal Naval Air Service to become the Royal Air Force and as one of its first pilots Anderson was engaged in bombing raids and aerial combat. During one such aerial battle in June 1918 Anderson was wounded in his stomach and thigh. Although not immediately fatal the wounds were nonetheless debilitating and Anderson had to resign his commission. He arrived home in Arbroath in 1919 but never fully recovered and after being admitted to Arbroath Infirmary he died on 2 November 1921 at the age of 29.

Because Lieutenant Anderson died after the 31st August 1921 he was not entitled to be listed in the War Graves Commission register or have an official 'war graves' headstone. As a result of the efforts of his nephew, Patrick Wright Anderson, his name was added to the rolls of honour at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle, Dundee University and the Tayforth Universities Officers Training Corps building in St Andrews.