CSM Robert Hill Hanna VC in the Great War

The fourth Irish-Canadian Victoria Cross of the CEF

CSM Robert Hill Hanna VC born on his father’s farm in Aughnahoory Townland, near Hanna’s Close, Kilkeel, County Down in the north of Ireland on 6 August 1887, the second of 11 children born to Robert Hill Hanna Snr and his wife Sarah Hanna.

Kingdom of Mourne

A member of the local Orange Lodge, educated at Ballinran School in the Kingdom of Mourne, he left school at 14 and worked on the family farm until age 18 when he decided to emigrate to British Columbia in Canada, retaining his Orange roots through membership of Vancouver LOL 2226. There he became a lumberjack and after an apprenticeship started his own prosperous Lumber Business prior to the outbreak of the war.

Enlistment of Robert Hill Hanna

Robert enlisted as a private on 7 November 1914 (just after Canada declared war) into the 29th (Vancouver) Battalion, service number 75361. Previous experience with the 11th Irish Fusiliers. Of fair complexion, with blue eyes, light-brown hair and standing nearly 5′ 8″ tall and 140 pounds he trained for 6 months, then the Battalion shipped to England on 20 May 1915.

29th (Vancouver) Battalion

29th Vancouver Battalion organized in October 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Seymour Tobin. Also known as “Tobin’s Tigers”. Tobin was a veteran of the R.N.W.M.P., and the South African War (Lord Strathcona’s Horse).

29th Vancouver Battalion embarked from Montreal 20 May 1915 aboard RMS MISSANABIE. Disembarked England on 30 May 1915. Initial strength, 37 officers, and 1104 other ranks. Just prior to embarking for France, Private Hanna docked one day’s pay for AWOL at Otterpool – the only blemish on his service record.

France

The 29th Battalion arrived in France, 17 September 1915, as part of 2nd Canadian Division, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The battalion later reinforced by 1st Canadian Reserve Battalion.

On 7 January 1916, Private Hanna returns from a Wood Cutting Party. Robert’s skills as a lumberman later utilized in the Canadian Forestry Corps in 1918.

Belgium

Private Robert Hill Hanna admitted to No 7 General Hospital in St Omer on 1 April 1916 with German Measles. Later discharged on 13 April, Hanna returns to his unit before July 1916, when Canadian Official War Photographer Captain Henry Edward Knobel captures several images of the 29th Battalion.

The series of photos illustrates life behind the forward trenches.

Pte Robert Hill Hanna Wounded

On 24 June 1916, Robert suffers a shrapnel wound to his cheek and later returns to his unit on 30 June. Then on 24 July 1916, Private Hanna attends a Grenade Course, returning to his unit on the 28th.

On 30 July 1916, Robert proceeds to a Bombing Course, returning to his unit on 11 August 1916.

Rise through the ranks

Robert promoted Lance Corporal on 8 September 1916.

On 27 October 1916 Robert promoted Company Sergeant Major in the field and granted a leave of absence. CSM Robert Hill Hanna returned from leave on 10 November 1916.

To Canadian Corps Training School on 3 February 1917, CSM Robert Hill Hanna returns to his unit on 3 April 1917, just in time to train for the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Unfortunately, the 29th Battalion fell and CSM Robert Hill Hanna victim to the deception of Canadian Official War Photographer Captain Ivor Castle (Knobel’s replacement).

In this famous image from the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Castle not the first to use trickery in his photographs. But, he became one of the last. The British government introduced Propaganda of the Facts. Legislation which forbade such trickery – it devalued the war effort.

Battle of Hill 70

As the War was coming to its denouement, and during a bitter 10-day struggle around Vimy Ridge — from August 15th -25th, 1917— the Canadian Corps overran a much-contested treeless hillock on the north side of the French mining centre of Lens called “Hill 70” (so called because it was 70m above sea level).

21 August 1917

On August 21st, during the start of the second phase of the fighting for Hill 70, both the Canadians and Prussian Guards had decided to attack each other on the same day at almost the same pre-dawn time such that desperate bayonet fighting ensued in No-Man’s Land.

Hanna Assumes Command

The Canadian 29th Battalion’s right hand B company pushed forward to meet its objective suffering crippling losses crossing the open fields. All the officers killed or wounded, whereupon CSM Robert Hill Hanna assumed command of the remnants of the force. Robert still determined to take the German strongpoint that three assaults had failed to seize. A stub German trench with parapet machine gun flanking the 29th’s attack with the potential to destroy the whole of the battalion.

Victoria Cross Action

Hanna coolly collects a party of men and then leads them against the position amid a hail of rifle and machine-gun fire. He personally forces his way through barbed wire, uses a grenade to silence the gun and then kills the four remaining German gun crew with only his bayonet and the butt of his rifle for one poor German soldier.

Counterattacks

He then advanced down the trench and destroyed two dug-outs with German stick grenades he found in the trench after his own ammunition had run out. He was joined by the rest of his Company at this stage and they consolidated their position by hastily building a fortification block, because Germans from the town below had regrouped after dawn to counter attack in force. However, Hanna and his party bravely held on against repeated assaults by the Prussians until they were relieved later in the day.

Victoria Cross

In the field on 16 November 1917, for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy, Hanna recognized with the award of the Victoria Cross. Robert proceeded to Buckingham Palace later that year for his investiture, along with Private Michael James O’Rourke.

“SURE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT, IT WAS ME JOB YOU SEE TO TAKE OUT THE WOUNDED. THERE WAS A LOT OF MACHINE GUN AND SNIPER FIRE. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT KEEP ON GOIN’, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.“

Private Michael James O’Rourke VC, MM

Victoria Cross Citation of Robert Hill Hanna

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, Supplement No. 30372, 6 November 1917

London Gazette, 6 November 1917

Company Sergeant Major Robert Hill Hanna

In September 1917 Sergeant Hanna promoted Company Sergeant Major just before his 30th birthday. Then CSM Robert Hill Hanna transferred to England with a view to obtaining a Commission, and posted at Bexhill depot, Seaford.

Lieutenant Robert Hill Hanna VC

On Command Canadian Officer Training School at Bexhill, Seaford on 10 November 1917. Hanna promoted to Lieutenant on 29 January 1918. He had opportunity to return to his hometown of Kilkeel and greeted by a crowd of over 3,000 in the town square. Robert continued to serve with the 29th Battalion until transferred to District 51, Company 107, Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) on 2 September 1918.

In the two images captured by Lt William Rider-Rider above at Wailly, sitting fourth from the right, and looking much younger than his fellow officers, Lieutenant Robert Hill Hanna.

Now with No 138 Company, CFC, Lt Robert Hill Hanna VC returned to the 29th Battalion on 1 May 1919 in order to proceed to Canada with his original battalion – and attend a Presentation of Colours!

29th Battalion Casualties

More than 4500 soldiers served in the ranks of the 29th Battalion in the Great War. Over 600 killed, and another 1400 wounded in battle. A staggering 44% casualty rate. Finally, more than 355 decorations for gallantry earned by the men of the 29th.

Presentation of Colours

The 29th Battalion returned to England on 12 April 1919, and Lt Robert Hill Hanna VC returns to his unit on 5 May 1919. Two days later, at Witley Camp, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales presents Colours to the 25th, 27th, 28th and 29th Battalions. Lt-Gen Sir Arthur Currie attending.

Witley Camp

Post Great War

After the war Hanna operated his logging camp before taking up his original vocation of farming near Mount Lehman outside Vancouver. Robert returning home several times to Ireland to visit family and friends over the years. He married (Hannah May Gillis d. 1993) and had two sons, one of whom, John, died in infancy.

Masonic Cemetery

Robert Hill Hanna died on 15 June 1967 and buried in the Masonic Cemetery at Burnaby, British Columbia.

His Victoria Cross still in the possession of his son Robert, born in 1940 and served in the RCAF and as a civil pilot with Canadian Airlines before his retirement. Robert now a retired travel professional.

Lt Robert Hill Hanna VC Statue

On the 25 September 2021, to help fundraise towards the cost of erecting a new memorial, a team of volunteers from the Schomberg Society and the local community carried the Robert Hill Hanna VC Memorial Lambeg Drum from his homestead at Hanna’s Close, Kilkeel to the top of the highest peak in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard Mountain, a distance of approximately 11 miles.

Robert Hill Hanna VC Memorial Lambeg Drum

The Robert Hill Hanna VC Memorial Lambeg Drum is owned by Kilkeel man, John Hanna, who is a distant relative of Robert Hill Hanna VC.

Unveiling of Lt Robert Hill Hanna VC Statue

On 20 August 2022 the statue unveiled in Robert’s home town of Kilkeel at Lower Square.

The statue unveiled by Robert Hill Hanna’s son Bob who had travelled with family from Canada.

Kilkeel Awards

The small fishing town of Kilkeel in Ireland boasts another Victoria Cross, a Nurses Red Cross and a Medal of Honor recipient.

• In Christ Church Churchyard the grave of Robert Scott VC (1874-1961), awarded the Victoria Cross in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).
• Joseph “Colonel Joe” Henry Thompson the only Ulster recipient of the United States Medal of Honor for bravery and courage during the Great War.
• Nurse Margaret Anderson from Ballinran outside Kilkeel earned the Royal Red Cross for nursing in the Great War and went on to serve during World War II including at the evacuation of Dunkirk.

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