A Moray village community will join together today to honour a local hero who never returned from the First World War.
William Anderson was killed in northern France just a day after he had earned the nation’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross.
Mr Anderson was born in Dallas in 1885 before his family moved to Forres when he was a child – that is why it is on the Forres war memorial that his name appears.
However, members of the Dallas community are commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death with a special ceremony today, when they will place a new sandstone tablet commemorating William’s incredible heroism.
He earned his VC when he defended a British position from enemy attack on his own – and in so doing managed to capture 60 enemy soldiers. Sadly, Mr Anderson was reported as missing in action just 24 hours later and his remains were never found.
The tablet will be unveiled today at the Dallas War Memorial of the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Colonel Grenville Johnston, who said: “It think it is wonderful that the people of Dallas have acted to correct the omission of Corporal Anderson in the right manner.
“To use the anniversary of his Victoria Cross to do this is a really good gesture.”
Mr Anderson served with the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment having as a young man moved first to Glasgow and then Newcastle, before he joined a younger brother who was serving with that Regiment.
Today’s ceremony will be attended by several of his descendants and will follow a morning service at St Michael’s Parish Church.