Kenneth Anderson (British Army officer)
General Sir Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson, KCB, MC (25 December 1891 – 29 April 1959) was a senior British Army officer who saw service in both world wars. He is mainly remembered as the commander of the British First Army during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa and the subsequent Tunisian campaign which ended with the capture of almost 250,000 Axis soldiers. An outwardly reserved character, he did not court popularity either with his superiors or with the public.
Sir Kenneth Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Sunshine" |
| Born | 25 December 1891 Madras, British India |
| Died | 29 April 1959 (aged 67) King George V Hospital, Gibraltar |
| Buried | North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1911–1952 |
| Rank | General |
| Service number | 12023 |
| Unit | Seaforth Highlanders |
| Commands held | East Africa Command (1945–46) Eastern Command (1942, 1944) Second Army (1943–44) First Army (1942–43) II Corps (1941–42) VIII Corps (1941) 1st Infantry Division (1940–41) 11th Infantry Brigade (1938–40) 152nd (Seaforth and Cameron Highlanders) Infantry Brigade 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders |
| Battles/wars | First World War North West Frontier Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (2) Knight of the Order of St John Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States) Commander of the Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) Grand Cross of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite (Morocco) Grand Cordon of the Order of Glory (Tunisia) Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Ethiopia |
His American superior, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, wrote that he was "blunt, at times to the point of rudeness". In consequence he is less well known than many of his contemporaries. According to Richard Mead, however, "he handled a difficult campaign more competently than his critics suggest, but competence without flair was not good enough for a top commander in 1944."