Given his stated age in the 1851 census, born c.1813.
Enlisted at Leeds on the 26th of July 1833, his Regimental number being 665.
No other enlistment details are shown.
From Private to Corporal: 7th of February 1834.
Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of September 1834.
Reduced to Private: 9th of June 1835.
He is shown as having been reduced to Private on the same day he embarked for India to join the regiment. He had been at the Depot since enlistment and he may have volunteered to go to India — reduction to the ranks, probably "by own request", being a pre-condition.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of August 1837.
Corporal to Sergeant: 9th of January 1839.
Promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major: 2nd of April 1841.
Gazetted as Quartermaster in the 13th Light Dragoons: 2nd of April 1847.
There was some controversy in the regiment at the time of his first being commissioned because it was believed he was being passed over in favour of a junior Troop Sergeant Major.
Several anonymous letters were sent to the Duke of Wellington about this, and other letters between the Horse Guards and the Commanding Officer of the 13th Light Dragoons, suggesting that they might have been from members of Anderson's own family, "his wife having two brothers in the Regiment, one a Sergeant and the other a Corporal."
1851 Census
Piershill Barracks, Leith, Midlothian.
Thomas Anderson, 38, Officer, Quartermaster, born York.
Henry E Anderson, 10, visitor, born Maidstone.
Cornet and Riding Master in the 6th Dragoons: 10th of November 1854.
A memo was sent to the Brigade Major, Heavy Cavalry, applying for the Riding Master of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons to join the Depot:
"Camp near Sebastopol,
December 3rd 1854.
Sir, Cornet Anderson recently appointed from the Quartermastership of the 13th Light Dragoons — having also being appointed Riding Master to this Corps — I have the honour to submit that he should proceed to England to join the Depot of the Inniskillings at Canterbury as early as practicable — and request that you will be good enough to obtain the Brigadier General's recommendation to the proper authority accordingly.
Not only is it important that this officer should join and do duty with the Depot as Riding Master in consideration of the many recruits (and remount horses) joining consequent on the casualties here and the augmentation of the Regiment, but furthermore, there is only one subaltern doing duty there besides the officer, Captain Fitzwygram, in command.
I have the honour, etc., etc.
H.D. White,
Commanding, 6th Drgns."
Lieutenant, 6th Dragoons: 9th of October 1857.
Captain, commanding a Troop, 6th Dragoons: 26th of July 1858
Exchanged to the 24th Foot (2nd Battalion Warwickshire Regiment).) 28th of January 1862.
On to half-pay: 6th of February 1862.
Returned to full-pay in the 88th Foot (Connaught Rangers): 7th of May 1865.
Retired on full-pay (as Hon. Major, Unattached List): 3rd of June 1865.
Quartermaster Anderson served in the Eastern campaign of 1854 with the 13th Light Dragoons, was under fire the day previous to the Alma, and was present at the battles of the Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman. Although not shown in Hart's as present during the siege of Sebastopol, he is shown on the medal roll of the 13th Light Dragoons for the clasp. (Medal and Clasps.)
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.
He was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855.
His name appears in the Nominal Return of those present now in the Public Record Office, also on similar rolls that appeared in the United Services Magazine for June of 1855 and in the Illustrated London News for the 26th of May 1855. On this occasion he was shown under the officers of the 6th Dragoons.
When his Crimea medal appeared in an auction in the 1960s, the write-up stated: "The Regimental History of the 6th Dragoons notes that this officer was awarded the Crimean medal with four clasps, although he was on the strength of the 13th Light Dragoons at the time of the Charge of the Light Brigade."
Lived at Tunbridge Wells, Kent, after leaving the Army.
Died at Cannes, in the south of France, on the 8th of December 1866. His arrears of pension were paid to Mrs Marrianne [sic?] Anderson, of 30 Broad Street, Brighton, Sussex. [Relationship?]
Named as Thomas E. Anderson at the time of his death.