Keilor’s Beverley Armstong tells Anderson brothers’ World War I survival story to Keilor Historical ­Society

THE four Anderson brothers all enlisted in World War I and remarkably all returned home thanks in part to a wallet in one brother’s front pocket.

Incredible tale of WWI survival

BEVERLEY  Armstrong’s family history includes an inspiring tale of brothers in arms during World War I.

Ms Armstrong’s mother Janet was 13 when her brothers – James, Donald, Gordon and Will Anderson – volunteered for the ­“empire’s armed forces”.

Remarkably the siblings all survived the war.

James and Donald ­embarked overseas in October 1914. James sailed for Gallipoli and served in the Middle East and France as a 10th Australian Army Service Corps driver.

Donald served in Egypt and France as a lance ­corporal. Gordon was in the same unit as James and William was a field ambulance ­driver.

Before leaving for war, James lived with his wife Elsie in Moonee Ponds and was captain of the Keilor Football Club team.

His three younger brothers worked at the family farm on the Essendon-­Keilor border.

While serving in the war, James always kept his wallet, notepad, photos and letters in his top jacket pocket.

Ms Armstrong said her uncle had an “amazing ­escape” while stationed in France when he was injured by shrapnel, which pierced the wallet – leaving holes in some of the photographs.

The shrapnel injured James’ neck and caused deafness in one ear but luckily did not kill him, although six horses nearby perished.

Shrapnel pierced James Anderson’s wallet during World War I. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

While serving in Egypt during 1915 James ­received a telegram, which said Elsie had given birth to their daughter Margaret.

Ms Armstrong said later on, her aunt mailed James a lock of young Margaret’s blonde hair. James did not meet his daughter until he returned from war, when she was aged five.

Ms Armstrong was ­recently interviewed for a DVD, made by the Keilor Historical Society for the centenary of Anzac Day, about the area’s residents who served in World War I.

“Our family was lucky we didn’t have a tragic ending, we had a fortunate ending in a war in which so many lives were lost,” she said.

In addition, her paternal uncle Kenneth Yates, of ­Essendon and formerly ­Keilor, enlisted in 1915 and ­returned home in 1917 for a medical discharge.

The Keilor Historical ­Society will launch the book Keilor’s Anzac Memory on Saturday at the Harrick’s Cottage Open Day from noon-4pm, in Keilor Park. Entry via gold-coin ­donation.

The supporting DVD will be launched on Sunday at an Overnewton Castle dinner. Tickets $60, book on 9331 6367.

If you have a story to tell about your WWI relative phone the Brimbank Leader, 9875 8456 or email [e-mail]