Cemetery: Cairo War Memorial Cemetery

Country: Egypt

Area:

Rank: Major

Force: Army

Official Number:

Unit: Seaforth Highlanders

Country of Service: British

Details: 31/08/15 Age 60 D. 78. O B I T U A R Y MAJOR G. W. ANDERSON DISTINGUISHED NATIVE OF RHYNIE The death occurred at Cairo, on Tuesday, of Major George W. Anderson, Seaforth Highlanders, brother of the late Mr. John Anderson, Seaforth Cottage, Rhynie. He was born in 1856 and enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1874 and proceeded to India with his regiment in 1876. He went through all the fighting in the Afghan War, was mentioned in despatches and promoted to the rank of sergeant after the battle of Charasiah. In 1882 he took part in the Egyptian War, and was present at the battles of Chalouf and Tel-el-Kebir. Two years later he accompanied Sir Charles Warren’s expedition to Bechuanaland and was chief of the signalling party. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and was at Crete with his regiment during the insurrection of 1897. Major Anderson was in the Soudan Campaign of 1898 and was present at the Battles of Atbara and Khartoum, being mentioned in despatches and promoted to the rank of Captain. In 1901 he was attached to the Egyptian Army with the rank of Major, and was afterwards promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and elevated to the dignity of Bey. He became Director of Stores on the Headquarters Staff of the Egyptian Army in 1905, and was decorated with the Imperial Ottoman Order of Medjidie. As Director of Stores, the deceased Officer was technical adviser to the Sirdah on all matters relating to the equipment and clothing of the Army. He had many narrow escapes in elephant, rhinoceros, and leopard fighting, and was an intimate friend of Selous, the great African big game hunter. Added to all this, he was a man of marked culture, and was the author of several works, including “Seaforth Songs and Ballads,” and “Lays of Strathbogie.” The following is a complete record of his distinguished war services:- took part in the Afghan War, and was present at the capture of the Peiwar Kotal; took part in the Khost expedition including the engagement at Mattoon; was present with the Cabul Field Force in the engagements at Zaidabad and Charasiah on October 6, 1879, in the pursuit of the Asmai Heights, and in the occupation of Cabul; also took part in the engagements at Doaba and Lataband in the operations around Cabul in December 1879, including the relief of Sherpore, and in the engagement at Charasiah on April 25, 1880; accompanied Sir Frederick Roberts in the march to Candahar, and was present at the battle of Candahar (medal with four clasps and bronze decoration). Served in the Egyptian war of 1882 and was present at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir and at the capture of Cairo (medal with clasp and Khedive’s Star). Served with the Bechuanaland Expedition under Sir Charles Warren in 1884-85. Served in the campaign in the Soudan under Sir Herbert Kitchener in 1898 with the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, and was present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum (mentioned in despatches and granted honorary rank of captain. British Medal and Khedive’s Medal with two clasps). Served in the occupation of Crete in 1897.

Photograph by Rogers Family