Jump to content

Gerard Anderson: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Changed the categories
 
(42 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|English athlete}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
'''Gerard Rupert Lawrence "Laurie" Anderson''' (15 March 1889 – November 1914) was a [[British people|British]] [[hurdles|hurdler]] who participated in the [[1912 Stockholm Olympics]] and held the world record for the 440-yards hurdles.
'''Gerard Rupert Laurie Anderson''' (15 March 1889&nbsp;– November 1914), universally known as "Twiggy", was a [[British people|British]] [[hurdles|hurdler]] who participated in the [[1912 Stockholm Olympics]] and held the world record for the 440-yards hurdles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/68839 |title=Gerard Anderson |work=Olympedia |access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref>


==Life==
==Life==
Gerard Anderson was born in [[Twickenham]], a village and a parish in [[Brentford]] district, [[Middlesex]] county in [[Greater London]], [[England]].<ref name=cwgc>[http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=925379 ANDERSON, GERARD RUPERT LAURIE]. [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]].</ref><ref name=1911census>{{cite web |url=http://www.1911census.co.uk/ |title= RG number: RG14. Piece: 424. Reference: RG14PN424 RG78PN14 RD5 SD1 ED10 SN104. Registration District: St George. Sub District: Mayfair and Knights Bridge. Enumeration District: 10 Parish: St George Hanover Square. Address: 15 Grosvenor St W. County: London |author= |date= |work= |publisher=http://www.findmypast.co.uk |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> His parents were David Anderson (b. 1844), an Anglican [[prebendary]], and Blanch Alice May Anderson (b. 1857). He also had a sister, Mona Constance Anabel (b. 1884), and a brother, [[Arthur Anderson (athlete)|Arthur Emilius David]] (b. 1887).<ref name=cwgc/><ref name=1911census/> He attended [[Eton College|Eton]] and [[Oxford University]]. He was the AAA champion at the 120-yards hurdles in 1909-1910 and 1912.<ref name=sportsref>[http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/an/laurie-anderson-1.html Laurie Anderson]. Sports-Reference.com</ref> On 16 July 1910 at [[the Crystal Palace]], Anderson set the first [[IAAF]] [[world record]] in the 440-yards hurdles with a time of 56.8 seconds.<ref name=sportsref/><ref name=gdwofficers>{{cite web |url= http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/officer_died.html#anderson |title= Officers of the 1st Battalion, Killed in Action, August - December 1914 |author=G.E. Conway |date= |work= |publisher= Grandad's War |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> Anderson took part in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 and was favored to win a medal, but had an accident during the Men's 110 metres and was disqualified. Anderson's brother Arthur Anderson was also a noted track star and competed in the 100 metres competition as well as of the 200 metres event. After graduating university, Anderson became a manager at the [[Cammell Laird shipyard]] in [[Birkenhead]].<ref name=sportsref/>
Twiggy Anderson was born in [[Twickenham]], then a village and parish in [[Brentford]] district, [[Middlesex]] county in [[Greater London]], [[England]].<ref name=cwgc>[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/925379 ANDERSON, GERARD RUPERT LAURIE]. [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]].</ref> His parents were the Rev David Anderson, an [[Church of England|Anglican]] [[prebendary]], and Blanche Alice May Anderson (née Laurie). He had two sisters, Gladys and Mona Constance Amabel, and a brother, [[Arthur Anderson (athlete)|Arthur Emilius David]].<ref name=cwgc/> He attended [[Ludgrove School]], [[Eton College|Eton]] and [[Trinity College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barber |first1=Richard |title=The Story of Ludgrove |date=2004 |publisher=Guidon Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=0-9543617-2-5 |page=49}}</ref> On graduating he was elected to a Fellowship of All Souls College. He was the AAA champion at the 120-yards hurdles in 1909-1910 and 1912.<ref name=sportsref>[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/an/laurie-anderson-1.html Laurie Anderson] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802021435/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/an/laurie-anderson-1.html |date=2 August 2015 }}. Sports-Reference.com</ref> On 16 July 1910 at [[the Crystal Palace]], Anderson set the [[IAAF]] [[world record]] in the 440-yards hurdles with a time of 56.8 seconds.<ref name=sportsref/><ref name=gdwofficers>{{cite web |url= http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/officer_died.html#anderson |title= Officers of the 1st Battalion, Killed in Action, August - December 1914 |author=G.E. Conway |publisher= Grandad's War |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> Anderson took part in the [[1912 Summer Olympics|Stockholm Olympics in 1912]] and was favored to win a medal, but had an accident during the [[Great Britain at the 1912 Summer Olympics#Athletics|Men's 110 metres]] and was disqualified. Anderson's brother Arthur was also a noted track star and competed in the 100 metres competition as well the 200 metres event. After graduating university, Anderson became a manager at the [[Cammell Laird shipyard]] in [[Birkenhead]].<ref name=sportsref/>


During the [[First World War]] Anderson joined the [[British Army]] and gained a commission as a [[Second Lieutenant]].<ref name=sportsref/> On 16 October 1914 he joined 3rd Bn. attd. 1st Bn. [[Cheshire Regiment]] and he saw action with this unit in [[France]] and [[Belgium]] <ref name=cwgc/><ref name=sportsref/><ref name=nyt>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00F14F73C5C13738DDDA80894DA415B848DF1D3 ENGLAND LOSING ATHLETES; Many Prominent in Sporting Circles Die on Battle Fields.] [[New York Times]]. 1 Dec 1914</ref><ref name=gdwdiary>{{cite web |url= http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/files/War%20Diary.pdf |title= 1 st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment War Diaries (August to December 1914) |author=G.E. Conway |date= |work= |publisher= Grandad's War |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> On 7 November Anderson was mortally wounded at [[Hooge, Belgium|Hooge]], near [[Ypres]]. Also killed were Captain George Bertram Pollock-Hodsoll, a footballer who had played for [[Casuals F.C.|Casuals]] and [[Corinthian F.C.|Corinthians]] and had on occasion captained the Army team, and four enlisted men. Anderson's unit successfully repelled a German attack and captured twenty-five enemy troops.<ref name="gdwdiary"/> There are differing accounts of Anderson's death from his wounds. Battalion records state he was killed on 7 November, the day he was wounded.<ref name="gdwdiary"/> A sports biography places his death on 9 November.<ref name=sportsref/> And records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission place his death on 11 November.<ref name=cwgc/>
During the [[First World War]], Anderson joined the [[British Army]] and gained a commission as a [[Second Lieutenant]].<ref name=sportsref/> On 16 October 1914, he joined the 3rd Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion of the [[Cheshire Regiment]], and he saw action with this unit in [[French Third Republic|France]] and [[Belgium]]<ref name=cwgc/><ref name=sportsref/><ref name=nyt>[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1914/12/01/100119203.pdf ENGLAND LOSING ATHLETES; Many Prominent in Sporting Circles Die on Battle Fields.] [[New York Times]]. 1 December 1914</ref><ref name=gdwdiary>{{cite web |url= http://grandadswar.mrallsophistory.com/files/War%20Diary.pdf |title= 1 st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment War Diaries (August to December 1914) |author=G.E. Conway |publisher= Grandad's War |accessdate=26 October 2012}}</ref> On 7 November, Anderson was shot and mortally wounded in the heart, aged 25, at [[Hooge, Belgium|Hooge]], near [[Ypres]]. Also killed were Captain [[George Bertram Pollock-Hodsoll]], a footballer who had played for [[Casuals F.C.|Casuals]] and [[Corinthian F.C.|Corinthians]] (who had, on occasion, captained the Army team), and four enlisted men. Anderson's unit successfully repelled a German attack and captured twenty-five enemy troops.<ref name="gdwdiary"/> There are differing accounts of Anderson's death from his wounds. Battalion records state he was killed on 7 November, the day he was wounded.<ref name="gdwdiary"/> A sports biography places his death on 9 November<ref name=sportsref/> and records from the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] place his death on 11 November.<ref name=cwgc/>

==See also==
* [[List of Olympians killed in World War I]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Anderson, Gerard
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British athlete
| DATE OF BIRTH = 15 March 1889
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Brentford]], [[Greater London]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 9 November 1914
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Hooge]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Gerard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Gerard}}
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1914 deaths]]
[[Category:1914 deaths]]
[[Category:British hurdlers]]
[[Category:British male hurdlers]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in World War I]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in World War I]]
[[Category:People from Brentford]]
[[Category:People from Brentford]]
[[Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Hounslow]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1912 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1912 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:People from Twickenham]]
[[Category:People from Twickenham]]
[[Category:Athletes from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Fellows of All Souls College, Oxford]]
[[Category:People educated at Ludgrove School]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Hounslow]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:English male hurdlers]]

Latest revision as of 22:05, 10 July 2024

Gerard Rupert Laurie Anderson (15 March 1889 – November 1914), universally known as "Twiggy", was a British hurdler who participated in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and held the world record for the 440-yards hurdles.[1]

Life

[edit]

Twiggy Anderson was born in Twickenham, then a village and parish in Brentford district, Middlesex county in Greater London, England.[2] His parents were the Rev David Anderson, an Anglican prebendary, and Blanche Alice May Anderson (née Laurie). He had two sisters, Gladys and Mona Constance Amabel, and a brother, Arthur Emilius David.[2] He attended Ludgrove School, Eton and Trinity College, Oxford.[3] On graduating he was elected to a Fellowship of All Souls College. He was the AAA champion at the 120-yards hurdles in 1909-1910 and 1912.[4] On 16 July 1910 at the Crystal Palace, Anderson set the IAAF world record in the 440-yards hurdles with a time of 56.8 seconds.[4][5] Anderson took part in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 and was favored to win a medal, but had an accident during the Men's 110 metres and was disqualified. Anderson's brother Arthur was also a noted track star and competed in the 100 metres competition as well the 200 metres event. After graduating university, Anderson became a manager at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead.[4]

During the First World War, Anderson joined the British Army and gained a commission as a Second Lieutenant.[4] On 16 October 1914, he joined the 3rd Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, and he saw action with this unit in France and Belgium[2][4][6][7] On 7 November, Anderson was shot and mortally wounded in the heart, aged 25, at Hooge, near Ypres. Also killed were Captain George Bertram Pollock-Hodsoll, a footballer who had played for Casuals and Corinthians (who had, on occasion, captained the Army team), and four enlisted men. Anderson's unit successfully repelled a German attack and captured twenty-five enemy troops.[7] There are differing accounts of Anderson's death from his wounds. Battalion records state he was killed on 7 November, the day he was wounded.[7] A sports biography places his death on 9 November[4] and records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission place his death on 11 November.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gerard Anderson". Olympedia. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d ANDERSON, GERARD RUPERT LAURIE. Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  3. ^ Barber, Richard (2004). The Story of Ludgrove. Oxford: Guidon Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 0-9543617-2-5.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Laurie Anderson Archived 2 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Sports-Reference.com
  5. ^ G.E. Conway. "Officers of the 1st Battalion, Killed in Action, August - December 1914". Grandad's War. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  6. ^ ENGLAND LOSING ATHLETES; Many Prominent in Sporting Circles Die on Battle Fields. New York Times. 1 December 1914
  7. ^ a b c G.E. Conway. "1 st Battalion The Cheshire Regiment War Diaries (August to December 1914)" (PDF). Grandad's War. Retrieved 26 October 2012.