Morpeth Herald 21/07/1916 carries an obituary:
MEMORIAL SERVICE AT HEBRON
On Sunday morning a memorial service was held in St Cuthbert’s Church, Hebron, the officiating minister being the Rev. G.W. Ready, the curate-in-charge. The church was crowded with sympathetic parishioners to pay a tribute of honour to the memory of Private George Anderson, 1/7 N.F., who died in action on June 30th.
He was well known in the neighbourhood as chauffeur to the late Mr John Tweedy of Tritlington Hall. Soon after the war began he joined the N.F., and went out to France fifteen months ago. He came home on short leave in May.
His father, G. Anderson, is serving with the Motor Transport Army Service Corps in France. His mother and two sisters live in Tritlington.
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
George Anderson was born in or about 1897 in St. John, Westminster, London. At the time of the 1901 census the family were living at 4A Tufton Street, London. George’s father, also called George, was the head of the household. He was a 30 year old coachman domestic, born in Ebchester, County Durham. George’s mother, Florence was 28 and born in Gloucestershire and there was a daughter, 1 year old Lorna Mary Anderson, like her brother born in Westminster. A boarder, 21 year old Austin C. Humble, a groom, from Cottingham in Yorkshire, was also living with them.
By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved north and were living at Newminster Kennels, Morpeth. George senior, now 40, was working as a chauffeur domestic and George junior (14) was a baker’s apprentice. 11 year old Lorna Mary was still at school and the family had now been joined by another daughter, 7 year old Florence Beatrice Anderson, who was born in St. George's, Hanover Square, London.
There are very few details about George’s military service. From the CWGC we know that he was Private 2326 Anderson, George who served with 1st/7th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers and died on 30th June 1916, the day before the Battle of the Somme began.
We know a little more about George’s father, George Anderson senior. He too enlisted in the army. Using his professional skills as a driver he was drafted into the Mechanical Transport section (also known as the Motor Transport) of the Army Service Corps. He attested at Newcastle on 17th August 1915 and was living at Tritlington, Morpeth at the time. On 28th June 1918 he was appointed (paid) acting corporal and on the same day promoted corporal. He was mentioned in despatches and was transferred to class “Z” on demobilisation in February, 1919. He survived the war. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star as well as the Victory and British war medals.
George Anderson is remembered at Hebron on H33.01 and in the Battalion History
