Arnold Thomas Anderson (22 March 1912 – 17 January 1996) was a New Zealand

track and field athlete Track and field is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of ...

, navy officier and school teacher. He won a bronze medal for his country at the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 ye ...

, joined the Royal Navy in World War II and then taught Latin and French at

King's High School King's High School is a private, interdenominational Christian school, located in Shoreline, Washington, just north of Seattle. It is part of King's Schools. It enrolls approximately 470 students in 9th through 12th grade. King's High School al ...

in New Zealand.

Early life and family

Born in Timaru on 22 March 1912, Anderson was the son of Thomas Anderson and Louisa Jane Anderson (née Boyd). He was educated at Timaru Boys' High School, and went on to study at Canterbury University College, from where he graduated MA in 1938. In 1939, Anderson returned to Timaru Boys' High School as a teacher, before moving to Christchurch West High School the following year.

Athletics

Anderson won the New Zealand national 440 yards hurdles title on four occasions: in 1933, 1937, 1938, and 1939. He represented New Zealand in the same event at the

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, where he finished fifth. Also at the Sydney games, he was a member of the New Zealand foursome that won the bronze medal in the men's 4 x 440 yards relay.

Military service

Anderson left New Zealand in December 1940 to join the Royal Navy, and he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in February 1942. He remained in the Royal Navy until 1944, when he returned to New Zealand and joined Naval Intelligence in Wellington.

Later life and death

Following demobilisation, in 1946 Anderson was appointed as a teacher at

King's High School, Dunedin King's High School is a state single-sex boys' secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the city close to the boundary between the suburbs of South Dunedin, St. Clair and Forbury, next to the parallel single ...

, where his main teaching interests were Latin and French. He served as deputy rector from 1968 to 1970, when he left the school, returning briefly to teach in 1972. Anderson died in Dunedin on 17 January 1996.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Arnold 1912 births 1996 deaths Athletes (track and field) at the 1938 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics New Zealand male hurdlers New Zealand male sprinters New Zealand schoolteachers People educated at Timaru Boys' High School Royal Navy officers of World War II Sportspeople from Timaru University of Canterbury alumni Medallists at the 1938 British Empire Games