Early Life :

Education & Career :

Educated at Liverpool University where he graduated M.B. and Ch.B. (Vict.) in 1898. After acting as house-surgeon of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and of Southport Infirmary, as surgeon on H M Transport 'Orotava' during the South African war, he went into practice at Llanfair Caercinion, Montgomeryshire.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.

Detail :

Captain Jonas William Anderson, (CWGC says Major), 3rd Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 26th March, 1918.

The Southport Guardian has the following article on 6th April 1918 with the portrait photograph shown above: “The eldest son of the late Mr. D.C. Anderson of Rawlinson Road, Southport, Captain Anderson, prior to joining the army, was in practice in Montgomery. He was formerly attached to the Royal Fusiliers, and later attached to the Coldstream Guards. While serving with the latter he was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 14-01-1916), and the honour was conferred upon him by the King at Buckingham Palace on April 8th 1916. He was awarded the distinction for “saving life under fire” and had previously been “mentioned in dispatches”. The deceased, who had been out in France practically since the beginning of the war, was a bachelor. The information held by the Royal Army Medical Corps gives Jonas as educated at Liverpool University where he graduated M.B. and Ch.B. (Vict.) in 1898. After acting as house-surgeon of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and of Southport Infirmary, as surgeon of H M Transport 'Orotava during the South African war, he went into practice at Llanfair Caercinion, Montgomeryshire. He took a commission as Lieutenant and medical officer in the 4th Territorial (Denbighshire) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 24th March 1906, and was called out for service on 3rd September 1914. Jonas arrived in France on the 6th November 1914 and was promoted to Captain eight months later. He was killed during fighting on the Somme, by now having been promoted to the rank of Major. Jonas was the son of David Clark Anderson and Annie Elizabeth Anderson of Southport, Lancs."

RAMC Website ANDERSON, Jonas William, Major, RAMC 3rd Field Ambulance He took a commission as Lieutenant and medical officer in the 4th Territorial (Denbighshire) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 24th March 1906, and was called out for service on 3rd September 1914. Jonas arrived in France on the 6th November 1914 and was promoted to Captain eight months later. He was injured during fighting on the Somme and later died of wounds.

Further detail appears in the Indian Medical Gazette of July 1918: "Captain Jonas William Anderson, R A M.C. (T. F.), was killed in action in March, 1918, during the recent fighting on the Somme. He was the son of Mr. D. C. Anderson, of Southport, and was educated at Liverpool University, taking the M. B. and Ch. B. Victoria in 18S8. After acting as House Surgeon of the Liverpool Royal Infirmary and of Southport Infirmary, and as Surgeon of H. M. S. Transport Antava in the South African War (medal), he went into practice at Llaufair Caercinion, Montgomeryshire. He took a commission as Lieutenant and Medical Officer in the 4th Territorial (Denbighshire) battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 24th March, 1906, was called out for service on 3rd September, 1914, and promoted to Captain after a year's embodied service. He received the Military Cross on 14th January, 1916."

He was recorded in the Western Mail on 13th April 1918. "Among other casualties reported on Thursday were the following [...]; Major J.W. Anderson, R.A.M.C., attached Royal Welsh Fuiliers, [...]" and also in the Manchester Evening News 5 days earlier: " Capt. J.W. Anderson, M.C., R.A.M.C., was the son of Mr. D. C. Anderson, Rawlinson Road, Southport. He received his medical training at Liverpool University. He was formerly attached to the Royal Fusilers, and later the Coldstream Guards."

Probate ANDERSON Jonas William of Vyrnwy House Llanfair Caereinion Montgomeryshire captain R.A.M.C. M.C. M.B. died 26 March 1918 in France on active service Probate London 14 September to John Horace Anderson surgeon dentist and Percy David Anderson surgeon dentist. Effects £2264 5s. 10d.

In addition to the Military Cross, for his service in the Great War he was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal and these decorations are believed to have been forwarded to his brother, J.L. Anderson Esq. 20 Hoghton Street, Southport.

Jonas is buried Grave II.A.6. Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval, France and is listed on the Southport War Memorial as Capt. J.W. Anderson, Coldstream Guards. He is further commemorated on St. George’s United Reformed Church War Memorial, (formerly Presbyterian Church) Lord Street, Southport.

Masonic :

The Masonic Roll of Honour 1921 lists him as a Captain. He is listed in the Lodge register as a 39 year old surgeon resident of Ruthlin in 1912 at the time of his initiation. The contribution register shows no explicit war service and that he "Died 26th Mar 1918."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley
• Researcher : Geoff Cuthill