Major John Thompson McKellar Anderson VC DSO (12 January 1918 – 5 October 1943) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Anderson was 25 years old, and an acting major in the 8th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 April 1943 at Longstop Hill, Tunisia, Major Anderson assumed command of the battalion when his commanding officer was killed and although he himself was wounded in the leg he went on and eventually occupied the objective. His force was reduced to about 44 officers and men, but 200 prisoners were taken and he had personally led successful attacks on several machine-gun posts and mortars.
He was killed in action at Termoli, Italy on 5 October 1943.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling Castle, Scotland.
‘Jock’ Anderson was educated at Stowe School where he was in Chatham House along with Leonard Cheshire, who was also awarded the VC, and at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Famous quotes containing the words john, thompson and/or anderson:
“Well, I know you haven’t had much experience writing and none at all in pictures. But I’ve heard about you. It all sounded like you’re just the man I wanted for a story about the Navy. I don’t want a story just about ships and planes. I want a story about the officers.... I want this story from a pen dipped in salt water not dry martinis. Do you know what I mean?”
—Frank Fenton, William Wister Haines, co-scenarist, and John Ford. John Dodge (Ward Bond)
“I stand amid the dust o’ the mounded years—
My mangled youth lies dead beneath the heap,
My days have crackled and gone up in smoke,
Have puffed and burst as sun-starts on a stream.”
—Francis Thompson (1859–1907)
“As I look at the human story I see two stories. They run parallel and never meet. One is of people who live, as they can or must, the events that arrive; the other is of people who live, as they intend, the events they create.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)