Lieutenant Robert Hill Hanna

1. Lieutenant, 29th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1919-04-30 to 1919-05-24
2. Lieutenant (Army). 1919-04-29 to 1919-04-30
3. Lieutenant (Army). 1919-01-04 to 1919-04-28
4. Lieutenant (Army). 1918-10-15 to 1919-01-04
5. Lieutenant (Army). 1918-08-24 to 1918-10-15
6. Lieutenant (Army). 1918-01-26 to 1918-08-24
7. Sergeant-Major (Army). 1917-09-22 to 1918-01-26
8. Sergeant-Major, 29th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1917-08-21 to 1917-09-20
9. Sergeant, 29th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1916-10-09 to 1917-08-21
10. Lance Corporal, 29th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1916-08-20 to 1916-10-09
11. Private, 29th Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1914-11-07 to 1916-08-20

Victoria Cross (Hill 70, Lens, France)
Description: 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 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.C./M. Hanna's outstanding gallantry, personal courage and determined leading of his company is deserving of the highest possible reward.
Date of award: 1917-11-08
Date of award: 1917-08-21
Source: London Gazette No. 30372, dated November 8, 1917, pg. 11568. Also listed in London Gazette No. 31259, dated March 31, 1919, pg. 4157
Comment: On August 21, 1917, at Hill 70 Lens, France, Company Sergeant-Major Hanna's company met with most severe enemy resistance at a heavily protected strong point, which had beaten off three assaults and all the officers of the company had become casualties. This warrant officer, under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, coolly collected and led a party against the strong point, rushed through the wire and personally killed four of the enemy, capturing the position and silencing the machine-gun. This courageous action was responsible for the capture of a most important tactical point.

Date of Birth declared on Attestation paper was August 6, 1886, but birth record confirms the correct Date of Birth was August 6, 1888. Note that his grave marker shows his Year of Birth as 1887. Died in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Won Victoria Cross for bravery at Hill 70

The Battle of Hill 70: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/classroom/fact-sheets/the-battle-of-hill-70

Grave marker images: https://www.thecphl.com/valour/soldiers/hanna.robert.hill.vc.html