Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Pipe-Serjeant R. Anderson, 6th Battalion Royal Scots, late Piper, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Modder River, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (3016 Piper, A. & S. Highrs.); 1914-15 Star (1131 Sjt., R. Scots); British War and Victory Medals (1131 Sjt., R. Scots.) very fine (4) £300-400

Robert Anderson was born in Edinburgh in 1875; he enlisted into the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in 1888 at the age of 13. He served in India as a Piper with ‘A’ Company, 2nd Battalion. In addition to the pipes he was proficient in Highland Dancing, taking prizes at the annual Regimental Highland Games at Mian Mir in March 1894.

Following service in India, Piper Anderson transferred to the 1st Battalion where he served in ‘B’ Company, serving in South Africa, November 1899-September 1901. He took part in the battle at Modder River on 28 November where the 1st A. & S.H. suffered 122 casualties, killed and wounded. Two weeks later, in the drive to Kimberley, the Highland Brigade lost heavily at the battle of Magersfontein, the 1st A. & S.H. suffering 113 killed and wounded. He was in action again at Paardeberg, where another 101 casualties were taken by the battalion.

On 25 October 1901, Anderson was discharged and returned to Edinburgh. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War he was employed as a Clerk with the Edinburgh Gas Commission. In 1910 he enlisted into the local Territorial Forces. He served with the 6th Battalion Royal Scots as Sergeant-Piper of the Battalion. With the onset of war he was mobilized. Sergeant-Piper (Pipe-Major) Anderson embarked with the battalion from Devonport on board the Ceramic on 5 September 1915, en-route to Egypt. On 26 November 1915 Pipe-Major Anderson with ‘D’ Company sailed from Alexandria for the Western Frontier where they were engaged near Matruh in the Senussi Campaign.

Having served seven months with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Pipe-Major Anderson returned home as ‘time expired’. He arrived back in England in April 1916 and later took his discharge at Edinburgh. With copied service papers and service details.