anderson enlisted in the australian army in 1915. he saw action in france for six months during 1916, but was medically discharged with a chronic knee injury that he would never recover from. his war records describe his injuries as an "internal derangement of the knee joint" and was sent back to england to recover. he returned to the front in 1917, only to have the knee turn septic in ypres. he was returned to hospital in england again to recuperate but then suffered septic dermatitis. he also contacted venereal disease on a number of occasions, and was hospitalized. he was discharged from the a.i.f as medically unfit after the war ended and returned to australia in october 1918.