John Anderson (VC) explained

John Anderson
Birth Date:12 January 1918
Birth Place:Hampstead, London, England
Death Place:Termoli, Italy
Placeofburial:Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy
Nickname:Jack
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Serviceyears:1940–1943
Servicenumber:126502
Rank:Major
Unit:Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Commands:8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Battles:Second World War
Awards:Victoria Cross
Distinguished Service Order

Major John Thompson McKellar Anderson, (12 January 1918 – 5 October 1943) was a British Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Anderson was educated at Stowe School where he was in Chatham House along with his close friend Leonard Cheshire, who was also awarded the VC, and at Trinity College, Cambridge.[1]

Second World War

In 1943, during the Second World War, Anderson was an acting major in the 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), in Tunisia. He had been promoted from "lieutenant (temporary captain)" in which rank he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa", but that award had not yet been published when the action took place for which he was awarded the VC, on 23 April 1943 at the Battle of Longstop Hill. The citation reads:

He was killed in action at Termoli, Italy on 5 October 1943.[2] He was buried at the Sangro River War Cemetery in Abruzzo, Italy.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling Castle, Scotland.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Rees, Brian, Stowe: The History of a Public School 1923–1989 London: Stamp Publishing, 2008. . pp. 148–9.
  2. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2377170 CWGC entry