Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Anderson was the second son of William and Catherine (née Ryan) Anderson, of Lyalldale, St Andrews. While William was from Scotland and had come to New Zealand in about 1878, Catherine was Irish born and had arrived in about September 1889. Married on 1 January 1891, they had a family of two daughters (oldest and youngest) and four sons. They settled on part of the Pareora Estate. Born on 3 September 1895 at Lyalldale, St Andrews, John was baptised Roman Catholic at Timaru just five days later, on 8 September 1895, at Timaru. Three months after his fifth birthday, he joined his sister Margaret and brother James (Jimmy) at Southburn School. The family was living close by when the Lyalldale School opened in 1901, the three children being first-day pupils there, and joined in time by their younger siblings. When James had a disagreement with the Lyalldale teacher in 1908, he and John transferred to Esk Valley School where they were happy and completed their education. At the Esk Valley School annual picnic and distribution of prizes in 1908, John Anderson received a prize for writing, the prize having been presented by the spinsters of Esk Valley. In 1909, possibly his last year at school, John received a Standard VI prize and a chip carving prize. His brother William was also amongst the prize-winners. On leaving school, John worked for his father on the farm. In time, the Anderson family settled on “Braehead Grange” on Anderson Road.

J. Anderson, a labourer, St Andrews, single, registered at the Timaru Defence Office on 12 September 1916. He was medically examined at Timaru on 23 September. He was just 5 feet 4½ inches tall, weighed 128 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 33-37 inches, a dark complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. He was free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health. John was a farm hand there at Lyalldale, working for his father, when he enlisted on 31 October 1916, soon after his 21st birthday. He was already serving with the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – William Anderson, St Andrews, South Canterbury.

His leave was extended till 5 January 1917. Settlers of the Lyalldale district gave a farewell social to Private J. Anderson on his departure for the Front in the schoolroom on 13 February 1917. Private J. Anderson embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment of the 23rd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Corinthic” on 2 April 1917. Disembarking at Devonport, England on 10 June, he marched into Sling. On 6 July he proceeded overseas to France, where he was attached to Strength at Etaples, then joined his Battalion in the Field on 25 July. Admitted to No. 2 New Zealand Field Ambulance, sick, on 13 September 1917, he was discharged to the Reinforcements Camp and rejoined his Unit on the same day. A month later - on 12 October 1917 - he was reported missing. He had, in fact, been killed in action in the Field in Belgium on 12 October 1917, but it was not confirmed until 15 April 1918, following a Court of Enquiry, previously reported missing. Passchendaele. Consequently, it was 15 May 1918 when a newspaper notice appeared – Killed in action in France, on October 12th, 1917, Private John Anderson, second beloved son of William and Catherine Anderson, of Lyalldale; aged 22. – R.I.P. So loved, so mourned. Not five months elapsed before an In Memoriam notice was inserted, on 12 October 1918 - Although he was only a private, He answered his country’s call; We little thought when he kissed us good-bye, It would be the last parting for all. —lnserted by his loving parents, sisters and brothers. His medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal), plaque and scroll were all sent to his father and legatee, Mr Wm Anderson, Lyalldale, St Andrews. John did leave a will which, naturally, was not probated until August 1918. He left the whole of his estate to his father. The proceeds of his life insurance policy constituted the bulk of his estate. A portrait of John Anderson 43936 is printed in “Onward: Portraits of the NZEF” Vol. 1.

J. Anderson, 43936, is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Belgium. He is also honoured on several local war memorials – the Timaru Memorial Wall, Esk Valley School, St Andrews, Southburn. On 26 August 1920 over two hundred people gathered at Esk Valley to do honour to the ex-pupils of the school who had served in the war. A monument which had been erected by the efforts of ex-pupils to the memory of their fallen schoolmates, was unveiled by Mr J. G. Gow, ex-inspector of schools for South Canterbury, who knew all the boys whose names and photographs appeared on the roll of honour - thirty-eight in total, of whom eleven had fallen - a heavy toll for that small district. Private J. Anderson, France, 1917 is one of the names inscribed on the monument. The Rev. E. K. Mules said “it was fitting that a monument should be erected there in memory of the sons of old pioneers, men and women who had come there over forty years ago and made the early history of the district. They had helped on the work of the country, their sons had died for it. and it was the duty of all who were left to carry on in the same spirit of self-sacrifice.” He sympathised with those who had lost sons or other relatives; “their lives were not given in vain.” The monument and roll of honour were entrusted to the School Committee for the school.

The Southburn District War Memorial was unveiled by Lady Jellicoe at the beginning of February 1922, “with appropriate and solemn ceremony”. After those present stood for a minute in silent respect for the dead, the National Anthem was sung. On the base of the polished Coromandel granite in a folded scroll are the words in bold lettering ‘‘For King and Country,” flanked by upright fern leaves. Above appears a wreath of bay leaves within which in gold lettering is the word “Peace,” and along the lower edge is a modest line “Erected by the residents of Southburn.” On the face of the memorial are the dedication and the names “In loving and grateful memory of the men of this district who gave their lives for the honour of the British Empire during the great European War 1914 —1918.” Among the names of eight ex-pupils of Southburn School is that of John Anderson. The structure is capped with an engraving of crossed magazine rifles and two flags, the Union Jack and the N.Z. Ensign. The people of the district were very proud of what their boys had done, said the chairman of the Memorial Committee, they felt deep sympathy for those who had lost dear ones in the war and hoped that this stone would keep the memories green in this generation. “The Last Post” was played by the bugler, a dedication prayer was read, and the programme was concluded by the assembled company singing “O God our help in Ages Past.”

A most striking war memorial - a beautiful Celtic Cross (or cross of Saint Andrew) – was erected on a splendid site at St Andrews and unveiled on Anzac Day 1922. It was built of local bluestone and set into the base are three marble tablets. The front one bears the beautifully inscribed, “Our Glorious Dead. The Great War, 1914 —1918.” The side ones contain the names of no fewer than twenty-three men from the district who fell at the front. First among those names is J. Anderson. “The memorial stands with its symbolism of sacrifice, victory, eternity, and struggle for higher ideals, as one of which the St. Andrews people should be justly proud.” The proceedings on the unveiling day opened by the singing of the National Anthem. The real object of the gathering that day was to keep in remembrance the noble ideals and the sacrifices of those who had fallen and to commemorate the victory which they had achieved. The hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past” was sung, followed by a passage of Scripture and a prayer. After the unveiling by Mrs R. H. Rhodes, “The Last Post” was sounded and then dedicatory and commemorative prayers were offered. A large and beautiful wreath was placed by four of the school children, on the monument, immediately beneath the inlaid inscription: “Our Glorious Dead.” Kipling’s “Recessional Hymn” was then sung by the assembly. The proceedings concluded with the sounding of Reveille. On 31 March 1931, the new school memorial gates at St Andrews were opened. The gates were a credit to the district, and the children were very proud.

Inside the old Lyalldale School, which closed in 1929, are plaques, one of the Fallen from World War One, a second of the World War One returned men, and a third of World War Two returned personnel. “WW1 Roll of Honour – In Memory of Lyalldale heroes who gave their lives for their country 1914-1918”, included there is a photo of Pte J. Anderson. The Lyalldale District dedicated a Memorial Wall at the Lyalldale School corner in April 2001. Two plaques are incorporated into the wall, and although no names are inscribed, the servicemen and servicewomen are remembered. “We remember with pride these pioneering families who endured great hardship to develop the land and the community, the trade and professional people for their supporting role, and the servicemen and servicewomen from the district who served in wars overseas to defend our nation.”

In March 1916, Mrs Anderson, Lyalldale contributed to the New Zealand Red Cross Fund. James Anderson, the oldest of the Anderson boys, was a farmer at Lyalldale, St Andrews when he was drawn in the Third Ballot on 12 January 1917. John’s brother William Anderson a farmer of Lyalldale, who had been drawn in in the 7th Ballot for South Canterbury’s quota for the 31st Reinforcements in May 1917, was possibly passed as fit only for Home Service. He appealed on 2 July 1918, asking for time till September to get his crop in. He was allowed till 23 September. At the sitting of the Appeal Board in Timaru on 17 September 1918, Wm Anderson, a C1 man (likely to become fit for service overseas after special training) and single, asked for an extension of leave to enable him to get over the shearing. He was allowed till 18 November. “Shortly after darkness fell last Tuesday evening, a young man named William Anderson, residing at Lyalldale, St. Andrews, met with a serious accident. It appears he was travelling on a motor-cycle along Brassell’s Road, when, approaching a corner, he crashed into a motor-car driven by Mr Underhill, of Pareora. Anderson was shot through the windscreen and over the car, to land at the back. Both his jaw bones, one of his legs, and a thigh were broken, and he was severely cut about the neck. The ambulance was called, and he was conveyed to Nurse McArthur’s, where he still lies in a critical condition.” [Timaru Herald, 29 October 1927.] “On inquiry last evening, it was learned that the condition of William Anderson, who was injured in an accident at Southburn on Tuesday evening last, showed little change, but was giving reason for satisfaction.” [Timaru Herald, 31 October 1927.]

Mrs Catherine Anderson died at her Timaru residence on 14 September 1930 and Mr William Anderson, who was considerably older than Catherine, died at his Lyalldale residence on 19 September 1930. They were buried at Timaru, their son John remembered on their headstone. William had ensured that a suitable tombstone to his memory be erected, and he had made provision for his wife Catherine. He had also made a specific monetary bequest to his son George who never married. He also made monetary bequests to his sons James and William and his daughter Elizabeth. In a Codicil to his Will, he directed that after his wife’s death, a sum of money should be held for his three Tozer grandchildren. Margaret Anderson, the eldest of the Anderson family, boarded at the Sacred Heart Convent School at Timaru for five months only in 1907 as she could no longer be spared from home. She married Arthur Tozer at the Sacred Heart Church, Timaru, in January 1919, and died in June 1923, leaving three little children. John’s older brother, James Anderson (Jim), probably served in the Lyalldale Home Guard in World War Two. Jim who had taken over the Southburn farm, died at Timaru in November 1976, leaving a family. William Anderson, junior, who had moved to the Ashburton district, died there in December 1970, leaving a family. George Anderson, the youngest son, died suddenly at Timaru in May 1961 and was buried with his parents. The youngest of the family, Catherine (Kathleen) Elizabeth Anderson (known as Lizzie) married Alfred Lambert Maguire in 1932 and died suddenly at Christchurch in May 1974, leaving a family. A photo of Lyalldale School pupils in about 1907, which includes Margaret, Jim, John, Bill and George Anderson, is printed in “Lyalldale – A Vision Realised” by John Button in 2000 (page 191).

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 July 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5520 0008362) [26 July 2013]; CWGC [15 August 2013]; Family (nephew Jim Anderson, Timaru) [2013-]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [22 July 2015]; Timaru Herald, 23 December 1908, 20 December 1909, 10 March 1916, 13 September 1916, 13 January 1917, 10 February 1917, 9 May 1917, 9 November 1917, 30 April 1918, 16 May 1918, 3 July 1918, 18 September 1918, 12 October 1918, 31 August 1920, 11 October 1921, 23 January 1922, 3 February 1922, 13 & 27 April 1922, 20 September 1930, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 13 January 1917, 9 May 1917, 27 April 1922, Evening Post, 8 November 1917, 29 April 1918, New Zealand Tablet, 13 June 1918, 20 February 1919, Press, 26 April 1922, 4 April 193129 May 1961, 15 December 1970, 14 & 15 May 1974, 29 November 1976 (Papers Past) [19 September 2013, 16 November 2013; 07 March 2014; 27 March 2015; 20 August 2016; 06 & 09 February 2018; 22 April 2018; 29 & 30 January 2020; 08 February 2020; 21 July 2021; 21 June 2022; 26 June 2025]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2013]; Catholic Baptisms index (Christchurch Diocese CD held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [21 February 2016]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [29 June 2016]; Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol 1 (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG); NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [26 June 2025]; “Lyalldale – a Vision Realised” – John Button (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG)

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Scoiety

Currently Assigned to

TS