John Anson  was born on 13 January 1897, the son of Rear Admiral Algernon Anson and the Hon Adela Anson (née Venables-Vernon). He succeeded as the Fifth baronet of Hatch Beauchamp, Devon on 3 July 1914 on the death of his cousin.

He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 September 1909 and was promoted to Midshipman on 15 May 1914.

Before being appointed to submarines, Anson served in the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V where he saw action at the Battle of Jutland. Promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 15 May 1915, He was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN for submarine training on 1 June 1917 followed by an appointment to HMS ALECTO for submarine F2 as First Lieutenant.  He was still in F2 when she was transferred to the depot ship HMS THAMES on 1 October 1917.

He was appointed to HMS LUCIA ‘for submarine duties’ and then to HMS VULCAN ‘for submarine H5 as First Lieutenant’ on 1 February 1918 and promoted to Lieutenant.  He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial Panel 28.