John Anstice | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1897-10-25)25 October 1897 Prestwick,Ayrshire,Scotland |
| Died | 10 February 1970 (aged 72) Colchester district,Essex,England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1949 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Service number | 10696 |
| Unit | Royal Tank Regiment 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards |
| Commands | 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards 30th Armoured Brigade 7th Armoured Brigade 8th Armoured Brigade |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order &Bar Mentioned in dispatches |
BrigadierJohn Henry AnsticeDSO &Bar (25 October 1897 – 10 February 1970) was aBritish Armyofficer who commanded numerous brigades duringWorld War II.
Anstice was commissioned into theRoyal Tank Corps on 7 April 1916 and from August that year he saw service in France and Belgium until the end of theFirst World War. In October 1922, he was transferred to the 5th BattalionRoyal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. Between January 1934 and September 1937, Anstice wasadjutant of theLanarkshire Yeomanry, a ScotsTerritorial Army unit. In 1939, he returned to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, this time as Commanding Officer, taking the unit to France.[1]
In 1940, Anstice was appointed commander of30th Armoured Brigade[2] before transferring to command the7th Armoured Brigade in 1941.[2] As part of thePersia and Iraq Command, Brigadier Anstice commanded the Brigade inEgypt,Ceylon,Burma,India,Iraq,Palestine andSyria.[1]
In 1944, he transferred again to command8th Armoured Brigade.[2]Later that year, he was made Head Liaison Officer at Headquarters,21st Army Group inNorthwest Europe and then he became aGeneral Staff Officer for Home Forces.[2]
Although he had commanded several brigades, this had been as a temporary brigadier; his substantive rank had been colonel. On 29 August 1948, he was promoted tobrigadier. Anstice retired on 2 August 1949.[1]
His elder daughter Sally Ann Wemyss Anstice (died 2015), former wife of Colonel Fikret Jemal (died 2018), married secondHenry Pelham-Clinton-Hope, 9th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne in 1959.[3]