Donald Clive Anderson

From Malcolm Uren, Editor of The Western Mail Perth, WA, To Donald Anderson, Australian Specialist, Ministry of Information, 1944.

Captain Donald Clive Anderson (born 18 April 1897 Cookham, England and died 2 Jan 1957^[1]), joined the British Army in India before fighting in the Middle East and Europe in World War I. Anderson toured Australia before making The Four Feathers (1939 film) Sudan, working for the Ministry of Information during World War II, following the war working on Festival of Britain.

Early life

Anderson enlisted for the British Indian Army and joined the 122nd Rajputana Infantry which once the World War I started was sent to the Middle East and then on to the French battle fields. The Rajputana Infantry became part of the Rajputana Rifles in 1921. In India, Anderson was at Quetta cadet college (1915) and visited Kohat (1915). Anderson sailed for the Middle East in 1915 stopping at Port Said in April and Malta before fighting in Mesopotamia(1916 to 1917) and was involved in a convoy from Armara to Kut.

After the War Anderson returned to the Britain visiting family in Guernsey in 1920.

An early skier Anderson spent the winter of 1920-21 in Mürren Switzerland, which is the town where the famous Kandahar ski club was set up in 1924. The name for the club is said to be named after the "Robers of Kandahar-Cup" first run in 1911. During the 1880 Afghanistan War Lord Roberts won a battle in Kandahar.

In early 1921 Anderson sailed to Australia on the P&O ship SS Macedonia and returned to England in the Early 1930s.

While in Australia Anderson visited Il Parran, Glenn Innes (1923), Hobart (Aug 1924) visiting Amy Gant, Andersons Mothers first cousin wife of Tetley Gant, member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council.

In 1924 with C.L. Morell, Anderson toured several stations in the Northern Territory and Queensland: Barclay Downs, Lawn Hill Station, Alexandra^{[disambiguation needed ]} before returning through Goondiwindi and Pukawidgi near Inverell in 1925.

Career

A painting depicting members of the Rajputanta Rifles, of all ranks and uniforms. circa. 1911

Anderson was the Military Consultant for the film The Four Feathers directed by Zoltan Korda, starring John Clements, Ralph Richardson, June Duprez and C. Aubrey Smith. Captain Anderson ensured the accuracy of the military uniforms and procedure in England and Sudan. During filming, Captain Anderson dressed as a Sudanese tribesman led the charge of Khalifa's cavalry in during the filming.

During World War II, Anderson worked for the Ministry of Information using experience gained in the making of the Four Feathers. He was also the Australian specialist for the Ministry because of his time spent in Australia.

After the War Anderson worked as the Chief Press Officer for the Festival of Britain in London.

Family

The son of Frank Anderson, Donald had one brother Patrick and two sisters Blanch and Christine. Patrick who died in an aeroplane crash while in the Royal Flying Corpsin 1917. Patrick was based at Waddington, Turnhouse and Midlothian.

Anderson married English author Verily Bruce in 1940^[2]. They had five children: Marian, Rachel, Edward, Janie, and Alexandra.

References

1. ^ The Times,3rd January 1957
2. ^ thepeerage.com

The Times, 3rd January 1957

External links

• The 122nd Rajputana Infantry in Mesopotamia 1917-1918, Christopher Trevelyan, King-Emperor

Persondata
Name	Anderson, Donald Clive
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	18 April 1897
Place of birth
Date of death	1957
Place of death