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Cenotaph record

Charles Henery Anderton

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Portrait of Charles Henry Anderton, 430142 (2014). © NZIPP Photograph by Kaye Davis 1234-2784. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Portrait of Charles Henry Anderton, 430142 (2014). © NZIPP Photograph by Kaye Davis 1234-2784. CC-BY …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Charles Henery AWMM
  • Surname
    Anderton AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 430142 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    15 February 1920 AWMM Hastings, Hawkes Bay AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Pre 1944 AWMM C/o Mr. R. Harding, Raukawa, Hastings AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mrs. I.R. Anderton, R.N.Z.A.F., Ohakea (w) AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII 430142 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      18 October 1945 AWMM
      'As a Sherman-dozer operator attached 28 NZ Assault Squadron, NZ Engineers, Corporal Anderton displayed courage and resourcefulness of a very high order throughout the operation from the SENIO to the PIAVE, Italy. When cutting the exit from the Scissors Bridge below the weir on the River Senio on the night of 9-10 April 1945, Corporal Anderton was blown up by a tier of at least two mines. Though suffering from blast and shock he was anxious to start working again. As soon as the replacement Sherman-dozer arrived he took over and continued to operate it throughout the day of 10 April and much of the following night. In the early part of the night of 18-19 April, before the Gaiana attack, Corporal Anderton took his vehicle well forward of the infantry to doze positions so that flamethrowers could be used. During the course of this work the exhaust of his machine began to expel sheets of flame which were readily visible to the enemy. He was mortared and shelled but calmly carried on with his work although there was a grave risk of other forms of attack as he was without infantry support. On one of the crossing of the Quaderno, just after first light on 19 April, the operator of an ordinary bulldozer was seriously wounded with his task uncompleted. The crossing was being shelled by what appeared to be a heavy gun at close range. Without a thought for his own safety and knowing his tank would provide an excellent target as it worked on the far flood-bank, Corporal Anderton unhesitatingly moved in and commenced operations. Shells came rapidly and there were a number of very close near-misses, but with calm determination he carried on and completed the task. Owing to a lack of Sherman-dozer operators Corporal Anderton worked under trying and dangerous conditions for long hours day and night without rest or sleep. He responded cheerfully to any call made on him and was always a splendid example to his comrades.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Anderton, Charles Henry. (Ref. WO 373/14/277). Military Medal. AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
    • 1939-1945 Star AWMM
    • Italy Star AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Shepherd/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Member of the Waipukurau 1234 RSA. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    14 January 2017 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    • 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 18 October 1945, p.5102.). Military Medal.
      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37310/supplements/5102
      Further Reference
    • 'As a Sherman-dozer operator attached 28 NZ Assault Squadron, NZ Engineers, Corporal Anderton displayed courage and resourcefulness of a very high order throughout the operation from the SENIO to the PIAVE, Italy. When cutting the exit from the Scissors Bridge below the weir on the River Senio on the night of 9-10 April 1945, Corporal Anderton was blown up by a tier of at least two mines. Though suffering from blast and shock he was anxious to start working again. As soon as the replacement Sherman-dozer arrived he took over and continued to operate it throughout the day of 10 April and much of the following night. In the early part of the night of 18-19 April, before the Gaiana attack, Corporal Anderton took his vehicle well forward of the infantry to doze positions so that flamethrowers could be used. During the course of this work the exhaust of his machine began to expel sheets of flame which were readily visible to the enemy. He was mortared and shelled but calmly carried on with his work although there was a grave risk of other forms of attack as he was without infantry support. On one of the crossing of the Quaderno, just after first light on 19 April, the operator of an ordinary bulldozer was seriously wounded with his task uncompleted. The crossing was being shelled by what appeared to be a heavy gun at close range. Without a thought for his own safety and knowing his tank would provide an excellent target as it worked on the far flood-bank, Corporal Anderton unhesitatingly moved in and commenced operations. Shells came rapidly and there were a number of very close near-misses, but with calm determination he carried on and completed the task. Owing to a lack of Sherman-dozer operators Corporal Anderton worked under trying and dangerous conditions for long hours day and night without rest or sleep. He responded cheerfully to any call made on him and was always a splendid example to his comrades.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Anderton, Charles Henry. (Ref. WO 373/14/277). Military Medal.
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7355714
      Further Reference
  • References
    • Cody, J.F. (1961). New Zealand Engineers, Middle East. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p.689. AWMM
    • Pringle, D., & Glue, W. (1957). 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      pp.489, 594. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      p.5 AWMM
    • This record was partially compiled from information provided by the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP) Veteran Portrait Project. AWMM

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