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15-25 August 1917
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Robert Hill Hanna

Robert Hill Hanna, VC

Robert Hanna was born in Kilkeel, Ireland on 6 August 1886, and came to Canada in 1905. He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, and by the summer of 1917 was a Company Sergeant-Major serving with the 29th Infantry Battalion.

For the bravery and leadership he demonstrated at Hill 70, Hanna received the Victoria Cross. He died in Mount Lehman, British Columbia on 15 June 1967.

Citation

"For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when his company met with most severe enemy resistance and all the company officers became casualties. A strong point, heavily protected by wire and held by a machine gun, had beaten off three assaults of the company with heavy casualties. This Warrant Officer under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, coolly collected a party of men, and leading them against this strong point, rushed through the wire and personally bayonetted three of the enemy and brained the fourth, capturing the position and silencing the machine gun.

This most courageous action, displayed courage and personal bravery of the highest order at this most critical moment of the attack, was responsible for the capture of a most important tactical point, and but for his daring action and determined handling of a desperate situation the attack would not have succeeded.

C.S./M. Hanna’s outstanding gallantry, personal courage and determined leading of his company is deserving of the highest possible reward.”

(London Gazette, no.30372, 8 November 1917)

 

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