William Kay Anderson
William Kay Anderson was born 22 December 1892 in Lindsay ON, and was the oldest child of John William and Mary Ann Anderson of Lindsay ON. The Anderson family had 3 children, with a daughter, Jean Rankin, and another son, John Ernest.
As a student at Lindsay Collegiate, William graduated in 1911 with highest honours, and went onto graduate a four year program at McMaster in just three years. He had entered the law profession, studying at Osgoode Hall and articling with Charles B. Nasmith of Beaty, Snow & Nasmith in Toronto ON.
After war was broke out, William enlisted with the 109th Battalion in Linday ON sometime in 1915. As a member of the 45th Victoria and Haliburton Regiment, he was offered a commission with the 109th and went to England as a Lieutenant. The 109th strength was reallocated once it arrived overseas, and as a result William was transferred to the 156th, the 6th Reserve Battalion, and then the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Shorncliffe, England. From there, William was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps as an observer, and saw action with No. 15 Squadron operating in support during the Battle of Arras in 1917. In late 1917, he was posted back to England and became a flight instructor.
On 7 January 1918, William was acting as a flight instructor with No. 20 Training Squadron at the Royal Flying Corps Aerodrome Harlaxton when he was involved in a mid-air collision while flying in poor weather conditions and reduced visibility.
William Kay Anderson is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Lindsay ON. He was 25 years old.
