Michael Herbert Anderson (11 December 1916 – 10 May 1940) was an English cricketer who played four first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University Cricket Club and Free Foresters.[1] His highest score of 60 came when playing for the Free Foresters in the match against the university side.[2] He also played two Minor Counties Championship matches for Hertfordshire County Cricket Club.[3]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Hebert Anderson | ||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 December 1916 Devonport, Devon, England | ||||||||||||||
| Died | 10 May 1940 (aged 23) near Hoogvliet, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | ||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||
| 1937 | Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Source: Cricinfo, 12 August 2008 | |||||||||||||||
Military career and death
editAnderson joined the Royal Air Force in 1936 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer. He was stationed with No. 600 Squadron RAF at RAF Manston in Kent flying Bristol Blenheim as fighters. On 10 May 1940, Anderson and his air gunner, Leading Aircraftman Herbert Hawkins (but not the navigator), were assigned to a mission to bombard Waalhaven airfield near Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The six Blenheims of B Flight involved in the mission were ambushed whilst returning to base by twelve Messerschmitt Bf 110s near Spijkenisse. Hawkins shot down one of the attacking aircraft, but the attack was too much for the Blenheims. Anderson and Hawkins' aircraft was chased by a single Bf 110, and one of the engines burst due to German fire above Hoogvliet. Forced to attempt a crash landing, Anderson crashed the plane into a field near Hoogvliet. Both Anderson and Hawkins were killed in the landing, Anderson being decapitated. Anderson and Hawkins are buried in Spijkenisse Old General Cemetery.[4][5][6][7][8]
References
edit- ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Michael Anderson". Cricket archive. 12 August 2008.
- ^ "Cambridge University v Free Foresters". Cricket archive. 12 August 2008.
- ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Michael Anderson (2)". Cricket archive. 12 August 2008.
- ^ McCrery, Nigel. The Coming Storm. Pen and Sword. p. 3.
- ^ "Lieutenant Michael Herbert Anderson". Find a Grave. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "1940-05-10 Blenheim Mk IF". www.sites.google.com/site/wo2vpr1. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "Bombardment of Waalhaven airfield, 10 May 1940". tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Accident description for Blenheim L1515 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 23 March 2020.
External links
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