Robert Hill Hanna

He rushed a machine-gun post through wire and enemy gunfire.

Robert Hill Hanna grew up at Aughnahoory, near Kilkeel in County Down, Ireland, in a farming family. Educated at Ballinran School, he worked on the family farm before emigrating to Canada as a young man. He settled in British Columbia and entered the lumber industry. On 7 November 1914 he enlisted in Vancouver with the 29th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, becoming Private 75361.

Hanna sailed for Britain aboard RMS Missanabie in May 1915 and landed at Boulogne on 18 September. His civilian experience was put to use in a wood-cutting party before he returned to the battalion in January 1916. That spring he recovered from German measles; on 24 June he suffered a shrapnel wound to the cheek but returned to duty the same day. After training in bombing and grenade work, he became a lance-corporal in August and a sergeant in October 1916. Further instruction at the Canadian Corps Training School followed early in 1917.

On 21 August 1917, during the fighting for Lens associated with the Battle of Hill 70, Hanna was acting company sergeant-major of B Company. The company's officers had become casualties, and a German machine-gun strongpoint protected by wire had repulsed three assaults. Hanna gathered a small party and led another attack under machine-gun and rifle fire. Forcing his way through the wire, he bayoneted three defenders and killed a fourth with his rifle butt, capturing the position and silencing the gun. He then established a block in the trench and resisted repeated German attempts to drive his men out. His leadership secured a tactically important position when the company's attack was in danger of failing.

Promoted to company sergeant-major on 27 August, Hanna went to England for officer training. King George V presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 5 December 1917. During a visit to Kilkeel, more than 3,000 people gathered to welcome him home. He received a temporary commission as lieutenant on 26 January 1918 and served with the 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion. In August he transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps, serving in Scotland with its 107th and 138th Companies. He rejoined the 29th Battalion for repatriation, sailed for Canada on 10 May 1919 and was demobilized on 24 May.

Back in British Columbia, Hanna resumed his lumber career, managing a logging camp at Aldergrove before turning to farming at Mount Lehman. He married Hannah May Gillis in 1930; they had two sons, one of whom died in infancy. He kept his connections with Ireland and returned to visit relatives and friends. In 1956 he travelled to London and paraded with the Canadian contingent at the Victoria Cross centenary review in Hyde Park. Hanna died at Mount Lehman on 15 June 1967 and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery at Burnaby.

Victoria Cross citation

No. 75361 C.S./M. Robert Hanna, Can. Inf.

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.

The London Gazette, Supplement 30372, 8 November 1917, page 11568.