Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Klaus Anderson

1. Lieutenant-Colonel (Army). 1918-07-04 to 1919-11-24
2. Major (Army). 1917-08-16 to 1917-09-27
3. Major (Army). 1916-01-20 to 1917-08-16
4. Major (Army). 1915-10-23 to 1916-01-20
5. Major, 3rd Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-03-19 to 1915-10-23
6. Major, 16th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-03-10 to 1915-03-19
7. Major, 9th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1914-09-23 to 1915-03-10

Reported missing [1915-04-28]

Reported POW at Bischofswerda [1915-05-16]

Previously reported POW, now escaped to London [1915-10-25]

Returned to service [1915-10-29]

Proceeded overseas to Russia as part of the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Forces [1918-09-17]

Distinguished Service Order
Description:

D.S.O. Details ( * Note original spelling has been retained )Knowing that the Enemy were preparing another Attack from Ourosozero, He rapidily replaced a Bridge without their Knowledge, and attacked them early on the 11th of April 1919, with an amoured train killing and capturing a number, together with two field guns and one machine gun. He showed marked gallentry and Iniative thoughout.

Mentioned in Despatches 'A' List
Date of award: 1920-01-30
Source: London Gazette 31759

Distinguished Service Order First Bar
Description:

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. To be dated 5th May 1919 unless otherwise stated:- AWARDED A BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER.

Mentioned in Despatches 'A' List - 2nd Mention
Date of award: 1920-02-03
Source: London Gazette 31764

Croix de Guerre (France) (Canadian Syren Party, North Russia)
Description:

The Citation is in French What I can make out :Order No: 54From the Little I can make out and from what I know.I believe this is for Taking the Train in Arkhangelsk, Russia( April 11, 1919)

Order of St. Anne, 2nd Class with Swords (Russia)
Description:

Notes :Russian Order of St.Anne ( 2nd Class) with SwordsAuth o/s Letter dated 15-11-19

Victory Medal

1914-1915 Star

British War Medal

Colonial Auxillary Forces Officer Decoration

Son of Nils Jorgen Anderson and Ane Anderson (nee Clausen); husband of Mary Ann Anderson (nee Allan) married January 2, 1895

The following details are from James Hill from the C.E.F. Study Group:

Pete Anderson was one of Edmonton's prominent business men before the war. He was a Danish immigrant who eventually carved out a substantial building business and one of the largest brickworks in Strathcona (south Edmonton). He was also a militia officer of some years standing with the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers.

He went overseas with the first contingent. The 101st contributed the entire 9th Battalion, but the 9th was broken up to reinforce the 1st Brigade; thus, they almost all ended up in Ontario units.

Pete was taken prisoner at 2nd Ypres on May 9, 1915, but he escaped in October 25, 1915. He used his knowledge of languages to bluff his way back to England after his escape. I believe he is the only Canadian officer to successfully escape during the war.

He is mentioned in several historical works, and published his memoirs after the war as "I, That's Me : Escape from a German Prison Camp and Other Adventures", which can be found online here.

The following details from Maureen (great-granddaughter of Pete Anderson and currently in possession of his personal papers and notes):

He also wrote a Scout-Sniping Training Manual published in London by Gale and Polden 1918 and in New York by Harvey Publishing Company c1918.

This Book is In the Library at The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Centre, U.S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

From a letter Dated Sept 30, 1927 to Herrn. Karl Ebenstien, Bifoshswerda, l/sa

Written by a friend and neighbour Joseph Hersdoerfor back to the Commandant in German (this is the English version)"

(Commandant of the POW Camp)

* Note all spelling has been retained as in the Original Letter *

My Dear Old Commendant by force of Circumstances:-

It was on April 24, 1915 (his 47th Birthday) that I was taken Prisoner at Ypres after every Man that was with me was Killed. I was blown up twice and when I woke up I was a Prisioner. I arrived at your Hotel on 28th of April and it is no doubt, one of the best, if not the best Prison Camp in Germany. I told them in the War Office in London that I believe I was in the Best Prison Camp in Germany.

But I could not resist the call of the wilds or wide spaces. While your camp was quite alright under the circumstances, there was not enough elbow room for me. I went to the war to fight my countries enemies and not to sit in a prison camp idly till the war was over.

There was nothing you could have done to keep me there. I had several different plans to get out and they were all practical. No one ever had a prison camp, but there is always some way of getting out. I had been a big game hunter all my life. I can go get the big bull moose, elk, deer, grizzly bear. That being the case, yours or any one elses sentries are worth little or nothing as far as I am concerned. I am used to see without being seen-can't get lost, not if I tried. I always knew where I was night and day, while travelling through Germany by foot.

I took train at Guben to Frankfort a/o Berlin, Wittenberg, Hamburg, Flensburg, and walked from there to Kolding in Demark, then by train to Copenhagen to the British Embassy and later to London, England, via Sweden and Norway.

When I arrived at the war office, I had gather enough military information while travelling through Germany to have saved Servia, but it was not acted on, and you know the result.

How did I get over the Frontier? Well, as I said before, a few sentries don't matter with me. I passed four and a wire entanglement. It was very dark and raining. They never saw or heard me. I nearly fell over the first sentry. After that I was more careful. It was at a little town named Frorup where I crossed the border- no one heard or saw me, although I was but a few inches from every one of the four senrtries.

In the morning, they must have known someone had gone through as I lost a pipe had bought from one of the Mollers in the Canteen at Bischofswerda and an electric torch I bought in Flensberg. No doubt these articles were found in the wire entanglements in the morning.

It rained the whole time I travelled through Germany. I was wet to the skin for 10 1/2 days until I arrived in Denmark. I stayed in the woods in the daytime and travelled at night as far as Guban, where I bought a raincoat, an umberella, a hat, gloves etc. After that I travelled by trains like a Gentleman.

I had very narrow escapes every day. You would laugh if you heard about them, but it would take a book to tell it all. I was later received by His Majesty the King, and Her Majesty, His Mother Queen Alexandra, now of Sacred Memory.

Now, as to how I got out of your prison camp, I will try to explain it in detail:-

( Rest of the Letter as time permits )

9th Battalion Nominal Roll [Major Army Canadian Infantry 16th Battalion Major Army Canadian Infantry 9th Battalion Major Army Canadian Infantry 23rd Reserve Battalion Major Army Canadian Infantry 12th Reserve Battalion Major Army Canadian Infantry 3rd Battalion B Company Taken Prisoner of War May 9, 1915 Major Army Canadian Infantry 1st Central Ontario Regimental Depot Lieutenant-Colonel Army Canadian Infantry 1st Alberta Regimental Depot Malamute Company Mentioned in Despatches & ’A’ List Mentioned in Despatches & ’A’ List - 2nd Mention Distinguished Service Order First Bar His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards in recognition of gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity, which services have been brought to notice in accordance with the terms of Army Order 193 of 1919. To be dated 5th May 1919 unless otherwise stated:- AWARDED A BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER. Order of St. Anne, 2nd Class with Swords (Russia)

Notes :

Russian Order of St.Anne ( 2nd Class) with Swords

Auth o/s Letter dated 15-11-19

Distinguished Service Order

D.S.O. Details ( * Note original spelling has been retained )

Knowing that the Enemy were preparing another Attack from Ourosozero, He rapidily replaced a Bridge without their Knowledge, and attacked them early on the 11th of April 1919, with an amoured train killing and capturing a number, together with two field guns and one machine gun. He showed marked gallentry and Iniative thoughout.

Croix de Guerre (France) Canadian Syren Party, North Russia

The Citation is in French What I can make out :

Order No: 54

From the Little I can make out and from what I know.

I believe this is for Taking the Train in Arkhangelsk, Russia( April 11, 1919)

1914/15 Star Colonial Auxillary Forces Officer Decoration British War Medal Victory Medal ]