ANDERSEN, John Strathord
| Service Numbers: | 389, 389 (VX26) |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 October 1939 |
| Last Rank: | Major General |
| Last Unit: | 1st and 2nd Field Troops |
| Born: | Samarai, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, 22 July 1912 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Church of England Boys Grammar School, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 6 August 1967, aged 55 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 24 Oct 1939: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Captain, 389 (VX26), 2/1st Australian Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Oct 1939: | Enlisted 389 | |
| 27 Apr 1944: | Honoured Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Buna / Gona / Sanananda "The Battle of the Beachheads" - Papua |
Vietnam War Service
| 28 Feb 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Major General, 389 |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement Major, 389 (VX26), 1st and 2nd Field Troops | |
|---|---|---|
| Date unknown: | Discharged 389 |
Help us honour John Strathord Andersen's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
John was the seventh of nine children of Carl Christian Andersen (Born 1867 in Norway) and Jessie Willipa Sullivan (born 1882 at Willipa Station in South Australia). Carl was a Master Mariner, and the family lived much of the time in Samarai, New Guinea - where John was born. John attended Church of England Boys Grammar School in Brisbane, QLD and enlisted at Royal Military College in Duntroon 12 February 1930 - graduating in 1933.
John's Army Service Record is a file more than 6cm thick, documenting the illustriuos career of dedicated, innovative and unfailing public service through peace time and war. John described himself consistently as a 'permanent soldier' Others described him as 'of outstanding ability' (Buna Campaign New Guinea 1943); 'resolute and industriuos' with a quick analytical mind and sound judgement and a huge capacity for work'; 'excellent original ideas'. His enjoyment and passion for his work was noted by his superiors - he 'displayed great zeal and enthusiasm' and 'was an outstanding officer with strong personal leadership, ability .... trustworth and of strong moral character'. He was recognised as having 'an abundance of common sense' and a keen interest in the welfare and well being of his troops'. His service is described as 'gallant and distinguished'.
For his outstanding service as Lieutenant Colonel during the Buna Campaign in New Guinea, in 1944 John was made Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 1938, John married Gwendoline Daphne Manchester (born 1914 in Mossman, NSW). He died in a crash on the Hume Highway - a heart attack - while returning to Canberra in 1967.
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