Katherine McCall Anderson

Katherine Edith McCall Anderson RRC & Bar (5 January 1866 – 7 April 1924) was a civilian and military matron, receiving the Royal Red Cross (RRC) award for her service in the Second Boer War and the RRC Bar for her service in World War I.

Early life Katherine McCall Anderson was born in Glasgow, on 5 January 1866, the eldest daughter among the eight children of Sir Thomas McCall Anderson (1836–1908) and his wife Margaret (nee Richardson).

Civilian nursing career Anderson worked as a staff nurse, then sister at the Dundee Royal Infirmary, following her training there (1887–1890). She worked as an assistant matron of St George's Hospital, London (1903–1906), then matron at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle (1906–1907) and appointed matron of St. George's Hospital, London (1907–1914).

Military and later nursing career Anderson served in the Princess Christian's Army Nursing Reserve in Bloemfontein during the Second Boer War and was mentioned in dispatches in 1901, subsequently being awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC) award. On return to the United Kingdom, she maintained links with military-reserve nursing services.

In 1908, she was invited to join the national advisory committee at the War Office for the newly formed Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS). In 1910, she was elected to the committee of the City and County of London. The sisters employed to work for Anderson were all chosen because they could speak the Hindustani language.