| Gerard Anderson | |
| Birth Date: | 15 March 1889 |
| Birth Place: | Twickenham, London, England |
| Death Date: | 9 or 11 November 1914 (aged 25) |
| Death Place: | Ieper (Ypres), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium |
| Sport: | Athletics |
| Event: | 120y/440y hurdles |
| Club: | Oxford University AC |
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]
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 at the 1910 AAA Championships.[4] [5] and the 1912 AAA Championships.[6] [7] 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.[7] [8] Anderson took part in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912. He was favoured 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, competing in the 100 metres competition and the 200 metres event. After graduating university, Anderson became a manager at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead.[7]
During the First World War, Anderson joined the British Army. He gained a commission as a Second Lieutenant.[7] On 16 October 1914, he joined the 3rd Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment. He saw action with this unit in France and Belgium[2] [7] [9] [10] 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.[10] 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.[10] A sports biography places his death on 9 November[7] and records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission place his death on 11 November.[2]