John Thompson McKellar Anderson
A/ Major, 8th Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
- Register No.
- 27 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- A/ Major (register: Acting Major) all Majors →
- Unit
- 8th Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) all Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 April 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 29th June 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
- Born
- 12th January 1918 at Hampstead, London
- Died
- 5th October 1943 at Termoli, Italy. (Killed in action.)
- Memorial / grave
- at Sangro River Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Italy
- Medal held by
- the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Digest of citation
On 23 April 1943 at Longstop Hill, Tunisia, Major Anderson assumed command of the battalion when his commanding officer was killed and although hr 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
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ANDERSON, John Thompson McKellar (Reg. No 27)
A/Major 8th Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
London Gazetted on 29th June 1943 VC Medal's Custodian is the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.
Born on 12th January 1918 at Hampstead, London.
Died on 5th October 1943 at Termoli, Italy. (Killed in action.)
Memorial on grave at Sangro River Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Italy.
Digest of Citation reads: On 23 April 1943 at Longstop Hill, Tunisia, Major Anderson assumed command of the battalion when his commanding officer was killed and although hr 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.
Additional information: He was awarded the DSO, as a Captain, for action at Hunt's Gap on the 3rd March 1943. It was whilst in action at Termoli, Italy that he was killed in action on the 5th October 1943.
Additional information
He was awarded the DSO, as a Captain, for action at Hunt's Gap on the 3rd March 1943. It was whilst in action at Termoli, Italy that he was killed in action on the 5th October 1943.
Museum.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Sangro River Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Italy
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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