Captain Hugh Caldwell Anderson served with the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops in the Great War. British War Photographer Lieutenant John Warwick Brooke captured his funeral procession at Poperinghe New Military Cemetery on 12 August 1917.
Attestation of Hugh Caldwell Anderson
Hugh Caldwell Anderson born 4 January 1884 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Parents John Duncan Anderson, M.A., and Helen Stevenson Loghton Anderson of 25 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen, Scotland. Hugh resided at 100 Gloucester Street, Toronto.
A Mechanical Engineer by trade, and later attested with the 127th Battalion, CEF at St Paul Place, Toronto on 1 January 1916. Anderson previous service with 127th Battalion, CEF and Royal Engineers (Volunteers) for 5 years, and at this time, Hugh stood 5′ 7″ tall, 158 pounds.
127th Battalion, York Rangers, CEF
Organized in November 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Fieldhouse Clarke and later mobilized at Newmarket, and recruited in York County – recruiting trek began 9 April 1916. Embarked from Halifax 24 August 1916 aboard SS OLYMPIC, and later disembarked England 29 August 1916 with a strength of 32 officers, 972 other ranks.
Became part of Canadian Railway Construction Troops, 20 November 1916 (with No.1 Canadian Construction Battalion), and later absorbed 109th Battalion in December 1916. Then, arrived in France 12 January 1917, and redesignated 2nd Battalion Canadian Railway Troops on 3 February 1917.
In addition, instruments donated by Davis Leather Goods, and Colours of 12th York Rangers of the Active Militia deposited in Trinity Church, Aurora. Furthermore, perpetuated by The York Rangers which, in 1936, amalgamated with The Queen’s Rangers to form The Queen’s York Rangers.
Camp Borden Ontario
At Camp Borden Ontario, Lieutenant Anderson completes his will on 2 August 1916, bequeathing all to his father.
Lieutenant Anderson embarked from Halifax on 21 August 1916, later arriving in Liverpool on 30 August 1916. Lt Anderson proceeded for service overseas, 12 January 1917, later arriving at Le Havre on 13 January.
Designation of Anderson’s unit changed to 2nd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, 3 February 1917.
2nd Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops
Organized in November 1915 as the 127th Battalion under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. F. Clarke. Later arrived in France 12 January 1917, and redesignated as 2nd Battalion Canadian Railway Troops on 5 February 1917. Finally, demobilized at Toronto and disbanded by General Order 196 of 1 November 1920.
At Beausart on 20 February 1917, A Company, under Major Thomas Ninian Elliot, with Lts H C Anderson, George Frederick Ritchie and G C Thomas finally concluded grading begun on the 16th, between Beausart and Sailly-en-Bois.
At Courcelles-en-Bois on 29 February 1917, A Company, under Major T N Elliot, with Lts H C Anderson, G F Ricthie and George Cecil Thomas on grading line Wailly Orchard to Wailly Station since 21st.
Later on 25 March 1917, Lt H C Anderson, 2nd in Command of A Company, with Lts Willard Roy Smith and G F Ritchie, established Company HQ at Biefvillers, moving from Courcelles-en-Bois.
Then, at Bapaume on 12 April 1917, A Company, under Major T N Elliot, with Lts H C Anderson, G F Ritchie and G C Thomas and 132 O.R. of A Company repairing formation on line being continued from Bapaume. Later, by the 17th, 7400 feet of track laid east of Bapaume toward Fremicourt.
Captain Hugh Caldwell Anderson
Lieutenant Hugh Caldwell Anderson to be Captain to complete establishment, 5 May 1917.
Later on 13 May 1917, 101 O.R. of A Company under Major Elliot, Captain Hugh Caldwell Anderson and LT Thomas continued preparing formation.
On 6 June 1917 in Ypres, under Lts Smith and Mollwraith, with Captain Anderson supervising, paries totallin 36 O.R. of A Company and 75 O.R. of the 16th Rifle Brigade commenced ballasting B.6 between White Pole Corner (H6.d.9.6) and the Canal Bridge, tracklaying between the Canal Birdge and Railway Station Square, also grading and demolishing houses and brick walls in B.11 anf grading and clearing brick on B.5
Death of Captain Hugh Caldwell Anderson
Captain Hugh Caldwell Anderson died of GSW Head & Chest, 11 August 1917.
Poperinghe New Military Cemetery
The town of Poperinghe (now Poperinge) was of great importance during the Great War because, although occasionally bombed or bombarded at long range, the nearest place to Ypres (now Ieper) both considerable in size and reasonably safe. At first a centre for Casualty Clearing Stations, but by 1916 became necessary to move these units further back and field ambulances took their places.
The earliest Commonwealth graves in the town are in the communal cemetery. The Old Military Cemetery made in the course of the First Battle of Ypres later closed, so far as Commonwealth burials are concerned, at the beginning of May 1915. Then, the New Military Cemetery established in June 1915, it contains 677 Commonwealth burials of the Great War and 271 French war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.