| Robert Anderson was born in Drumglass, Dungannon about 1874.
|
| Robert later moved to Belfast.
|
| Robert Anderson and Catherine Davidson were married on 18th April 1892 in Belfast. Robert was about 18 years old.
|
| Robert and Catherine had at least seven children.
|
| The 1901 census lists Robert as age 28, living with his wife and family at house 12 in Crimea Street, Belfast. Robert was a general labourer.
|
| Known family: Robert Anderson, Catherine Anderson, John Anderson (born 27th December 1892), Robert Anderson (born 4th March 1898), Ethel Anderson (born 25th November 1901), Gertrude Anderson (born 21st March 1904), Mabel Anderson (born 1st January 1907), Jane Anderson (born about 1911).
|
| The 1911 census lists Robert as age 38, living with his wife and family at house 12 in Crimea Street, Belfast. He was a general labourer.
|
| Robert was a sawyer in the employment of Thomas Dickson & Sons in Belfast.
|
| Robert Anderson enlisted in Belfast.
|
|
| Private Robert Anderson arrived in France with the Royal Irish Rifles on 4th October 1915.
|
| A report in a Belfast newspaper from November 1915 records that a Private Robert Anderson, of the 16th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, had been wounded in France and was removed to Wharncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield.
|
| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th November 1915:
|
|
| Mrs Anderson, 26 Crimea Street, Belfast, has been notified that her husband, Private Robert Anderson, 16th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Ulster Division), has been wounded in France, and is now in Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield. The wound is not serious. Private Anderson was a sawyer in the employment of Messrs. Thomas Dickson & Sons before he enlisted.
|
| The wound was not serious and Private Anderson returned to France.
|
| Private Robert Anderson was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.
|
| Private Robert Anderson was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on 1st July 1916 at the Somme.
|
| Private Robert Anderson has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial at the Somme in France.
|
| Private Robert Anderson is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial.
|
| There are two other Robert Anderson’s in the Dungannon War Dead list. All three died on 1st July 1916, making the research process complicated and subject to revision.
|
|
