George E Anderson
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
George Edwards Anderson enlisted with his parent's permission late in the war in April 1918 at the age of 19 1/2 years old.
Within seven months, he was in overseas and attached to the 5th Battalion as reinforcements. By the time he reached France, the war was over.
By March 1919, he was attached to the Graves Regiment to help with the necessary work of that Regiment. He returned home in November 1919 and discharged in December.
We have no record of any race wins for George either before or after the war. At only 5 feet 6 inches tall, he was not a natural physique for a rower.
A letter to the Department of Defence in 1923 from Bonshaw Estate Stanhope, indicates that he became a farmer in northern Victoria after the war.
Note: Whilst we do not have absolute proof that this G E Anderson is the Mercantile member, we are confident that he is given his occupation as a stock clerk at the time of enlistment, Mercantile drew its members from such occupations, and he is only added to the roll of honour in the annual report published in September 1918.
Andrew Guerin
August 2021