anderson

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Was it delivered on a silver salver?

what the heck ?

There was a time in the Military when an invitation was delivered depending on who it went to. It would be delivered on a silver plate!

Gerard Rupert Lawrence "Laurie" Anderson (15 March 1889 – November 1914) was a British hurdler who participated in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and held the world record for the 440-yards hurdles. Gerard Anderson was born in Twickenham, a village and a parish in Brentford district, Middlesex county in Greater London, England. His parents were David Anderson (b. 1844), an Anglican prebendary, and Blanch Alice May Anderson (b. 1857). He also had a sister, Mona Constance Anabel (b. 1884), and a brother, Arthur Emilius David (b. 1887). He attended Eton and Oxford University. He was the AAA champion at the 120-yards hurdles in 1909-1910 and 1912. On July 16, 1910 at the Crystal Palace, Anderson set the first IAAF world record in the 440-yards hurdles with a time of 56.8 seconds. Anderson took part in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 and was favored to win a medal, but had an accident during the Men's 110 metres and was disqualified. Anderson's brother Arthur Anderson was also a noted track star and competed in the 100 metres competition as well as of the 200 metres event. After graduating university, Anderson became a manager at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead. During the First World War Anderson joined the British Army and gained a commission as a Second Lieutenant. On October 16, 1914 he joined 3rd Bn. attd. 1st Bn. Cheshire Regiment and he saw action with this unit in France and Belgium On November 7 Anderson was mortally wounded at Hooge, near Ypres. Also killed were Captain George Bertram Pollock-Hodsoll and four enlisted men. Anderson's unit successfully repelled a German attack and captured twenty-five enemy troops. There are differing accounts of Anderson's death from his wounds. Battalion records state he was killed on November 7, the day he was wounded. A sports biography places his death on November 9.[ And records from the Commonweath War Graves Commission place his death on November 11. From Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Anderson

According to grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/officer_died.html he was mentioned in Despatches. (Field Marshall French - 14 January 1915).

Wonderful portrait

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/