In Ovingham Burial Ground is a family headstone for Anderson which reads:
In loving memory of
my dear husband
Robert Anderson
died 27th May 1959
aged 87 years.
and Norah his wife
died 27th Sept. 1974
aged 81 years.
also our only dear son
Warrant Officer
Sidney Ross, R.A.F.
missing presumed killed
12th Jan. 1945
aged 22 years
In heavenly love abiding
W/O. Anderson was with 617 Sqdn. He was a crew member of Lancaster I NF992 EC-B which was on a sortie to Bergen to attack U-boat pens. The aircraft came down into the sea off the Norwegian coast.
W/O Anderson was awarded the D.F.M. in 1943 after service with 467 Sqdn. (This is incorrect: See citation below).
Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1945; W.R. Chorley; 1998; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 92 X
The Evening Chronicle 22/11/1945 contains the following:
Roll of Honour
ANDERSON, Prudhoe, 43, Dene Grove, Warrant Officer Sydney Ross Anderson, D.F.M., Navigator, R.A.F.V.R., aged 23 years, dear husband of Joan (nee Lathan) and much loved only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Anderson, previously reported missing now presumed to have lost his life on air operations over Norway, Jan. 12, 1945.
The London Gazette 14/09/1943 reports the following citation:
ANDERSON Sydney Ross
1098277
Sergeant
No. 467 Sqn
Sorties 28
Flying Hours 170.00
Navigator
Sergeant Anderson has completed 28 successful bombing sorties as Navigator against targets in enemy occupied territory including 12 to the Ruhr and 3 to Berlin. His unconquerable spirit of determination to reach his objective has to a great extent been responsible for the success of each of his operational sortie, most of which have been to heavily defended targets. I consider this N.C.O.'s tenacity, courage and fine offensive spirit merit the award of the D.F.M.
July 26th 1943
Acknowledgments: Simon Glancey
The name in all the written reports is given as "Sydney" but the name on the headstone is "Sidney".
Sidney Ross Anderson is remembered at Prudhoe on P19.01 and P19.03
