`Jock' Anderson was born in Urana, New South Wales, where his father was a general practitioner. He was educated at Longford Grammar School, Tasmania, and University of Melbourne where he rowed for Ormond College. After graduation he was a demonstrator in the University department of anatomy and in 1911 was appointed honorary outpatient physician at St Vincent's Hospital. He went into general practice at Corowa, New South Wales in 1913 and at Benalla, Victoria in 1914.

On the outbreak of war he joined the AIF, serving from September 1914 to February 1920 in Gallipoli, Egypt and France and rising from captain to lieutenant-colonel and ADMS at administrative HQ in London. At the end of his military service in 1920 he became lecturer in anatomy at the University of Melbourne, but in 1923 left Australia for England and joined the Ruthin Castle Clinic in North Wales where he remained for the rest of his life.

In World War II Anderson offered his services to the Australian Army again and was appointed to the AAMC as medical liaison officer in the United Kingdom. In 1944 when the Australian Army established an official staff office in London he was appointed ADGMS with the rank of colonel. He acted as liaison officer between the medical services of the British and Australian armies, spoke for Australia on matters of policy, and kept the Australian DGMS informed on all important matters. In addition Colonel Anderson acted as adviser and helper to Australian medical officers in Britain. It was for the unstinting help he gave in this role and the excellence which marked everything he did that the College invited him to accept its Fellowship in 1946. He had made many friends during his life, never severing his close ties with Australia, and his entry into the College had widespread approval.

He married Ruby Moffitt in 1919 while in England. She died in 1937. They had a son and a daughter both of whom survived him.