Anderson was born in
Stonehaven, Scotland, the son of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vass Anderson (1856–1933), of the Indian Medical Service. He attended the
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was commissioned into the
Royal Engineers on 12 August 1914. Between 1915 and 1918 he served in the
First World War, during which he was
mentioned in despatches. He was promoted to captain on 3 November 1917. In 1921, Anderson was attached to the
2nd Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners and saw active service in the
Malabar rebellion. On 2 June 1923 he was made a
Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services during the conflict. Anderson remained in India, and from 1934 to 1937 was Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for India. Between 1937 and 1939 he was Commanding Officer, Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners. During the
Second World War, Anderson returned to the United Kingdom where he was appointed Assistant Quarter-Master General (AQMG), Home Forces in 1940 and Colonel in charge of Administration, Home Forces until 1942. He then worked at the
War Office, before serving as Deputy Quarter-Master General (DQMG), British Army Staff in Washington, D.C. In January 1945 he was invested as a
Companion of the Order of the Bath. From August 1944 to April 1947, Anderson was Director of Civil Affairs at the War Office and retired with the rank of major-general in June 1949. He was awarded the
Legion of Merit by the United States on 16 January 1947. The Queen of the Netherlands awarded him with a Grand Officer in the
Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords by Royal Decree no. 34 of 13 February 1947. ==Personal life==