Anderson graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1936 and from Queen's University in 1937 and then joined the Canadian Army in 1939.

[1] He was appointed Commander of Western Ontario Area in 1952 and of 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade in Germany in 1953.

[1] He went on to be Vice Adjutant-General in 1957, Deputy Chief of the General Staff in 1959 and Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada in 1960.

[1] In retirement he was President of the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada.

[3] A classroom in the School of Military Mapping in Ottawa, Ontario, is named for his father, Major-General William Beaumont Anderson, CMG, DSO, for his contributions to military mapping before and after the First World War.