Lieutenant John Anderson
754026
Born: 1883, Knaresborough, England
Lived in Sault Ste Marie, ON
Killed in Action: Aug 8, 1918 – Battle of Amiens
The Great War touched every region, every town and every city in Canada. No person or place was immune to the rush and drive to enlist men to help build up a fighting force capable to pushing back the Germans. By February 1916, the beginning of the third year of the war, great plans were being made to ramp up the attacks on the Western Front. However, the allies needed one key thing to ensure they could take advantage of any success realized in battle…namely, they needed more men.
Lt Col Thomas Percival Rowland was responsible for the drive to sign up new soldiers in the Algoma-Sault Ste Marie region. However, his first task was to put a team in place to manage the recruitment drive and assist in turning these woodsmen, miners, natives and mariners into soldiers. On Jan 17, 1916, local bookkeeper, John Anderson, former reservist of the 51st Soo Rifles, enlisted to join TP Rowland’s team. As Lieutenant, he would assist in the recruitment of and in leading the men for Canada’s newest northern Battalion, the 119th Algoma Battalion.
The following is a remarkable letter sent to the men of the Algoma-Manitoulin-Sault Ste Marie region by Lt. Col Thomas Rowland. This letter was used as a call out to single or married men and convince them to do their duty to their country, their king and to their community and join the 119th.
Dear Sir:
You are, I believe, of military age, physically fit and unmarried. As such, I address this letter to you, with the appeal that you will consider it, and will come forward and enlist in the 119th Overseas Battalion.
You are absolutely needed. Every man, married or single, of military age and fitness, in the great countries of France, Russia and Italy, is enrolled and subject to call on a moment's notice, to fight. In Great Britain, through conscription, every single man qualified to join her fighting forces, is about to be brought into her armies. Canada has just raised the strength of her fighting forces to half a million men.
Is there any doubt now in your mind that you are needed? That, if you do not volunteer; someone else-perhaps a married man whose wife and children need him-must take your place?
Have you considered who should make the sacrifices entailed by enlisting-The single men or the married men? Britain, through conscription, say the single men should. The world over the sentiment is the same; and is not less pronounced in Canada than elsewhere?
Numbers of young men have left their homes in this District to fight for Canada-That means, for you and for your parents, and for yours and their property. You know many of these men. WAS IT-IS IT-THEIR DUTY TO GO, any more than yours? Is it fair they should sacrifice everything, their positions, their earnings for a year or more, all their home comforts, to enable you to hold down your job and to enjoy your ease and comfort?
DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD FIGHT-FOR YOU?
After the war is over you will be only two or three years older than you are today. The Boys will know that You will be surrounded by those who enlisted, and fought, and returned. They will want to know what you did. What will be your answer? And what, your answer in the long years to come? And to your children, and their children?
Join this Battalion, and to you the road to promotion is open. Show aptitude and military efficiency, and promotion will be given you. Show great efficiency, and higher promotion will be given you. There is nothing in this Battalion you cannot achieve. If you have been examined by the Medical Officer since the 1st of December 1915, and have been refused, write me and I will give you a certificate, which I am authorized to issue, showing you have patriotically volunteered, and unfortunately have been rejected.
If you have not been examined go to the Medical Office nearest your home, who is examining recruits for this Battalion, be examined and then be attested. By so doing you will do your duty, and will have taken a step you will never regret.
I will be glad to hear from you in answer to this appeal.
Yours Faithfully,
T.P. Rowland, Lt-Co
Commanding 119th, O.S.Ba. C.E.F.
John Anderson helped lead the men of the 119th through recruitment and training in Canada, transport to England in the summer of 1916 and stayed with the men until he was transferred to the 8th Reserve Battalion over a year later in Nov 1917. As the battalion was ramping up its readiness for a soon-to-be-planned push against the German, on April 30th, 1918 John joined the 116th.
42 men from the 116th along with a total of 1036 Canadians died on Aug 8th, 1918. This was the first day of battle for the campaign known as the 100 Day Offensive or the 100 Day Push…or now referred to as Canada’s 100 Days. John Anderson was killed participating in this offensive. His remains are interred at the Hourges Orchard Cemetery at Domart-Sur-La-Luce.
Lest we forget.