Canadian War Museum acquires fourth Victoria Cross from the Battle of Hill 70

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release

Ottawa, Ontario, November 19, 2018 — The Canadian War Museum is honoured to announce its acquisition of the Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant Robert Hill Hanna of B Company, 29th Infantry Battalion, for his bravery and leadership during a key moment in the Battle of Hill 70 during the First World War. With this acquisition, the Museum now holds four of the six Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians for action at Hill 70.

The medal was acquired with the generous support of Cyril Woods through the Hill 70 Memorial Project, and with the assistance of the Museum’s National Collection Fund. Mr. Woods, an engaged philanthropist who supports many causes, is a founding donor of the Hill 70 Memorial Project.

“The Battle of Hill 70 was a significant tactical victory for the Allies. This medal set is a tangible reminder of that battle and it will help us tell the story in a new display, to be unveiled in one of our galleries,” said James Whitham, Acting Director General of the Canadian War Museum. “We thank Mr. Woods and members of the Hill 70 Memorial Project for their generosity in making this acquisition possible.”

The Battle of Hill 70, which took place between August 15 and 25, 1917, was the first major action fought by the Canadian Corps under a Canadian commander, Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie. The Canadian victory gave the Allies a strategically important position overlooking the city of Lens, in France. In achieving this victory, the Canadian Corps suffered 1,877 killed and over 7,000 wounded or missing in action.

Hanna, then a Company Sergeant-Major, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his “outstanding gallantry, personal courage and determined leading of his company.” He took charge of his company of the 29th Battalion on August 21, after all officers had been killed or wounded in three failed assaults. Hanna gathered the survivors for one more assault, rushing a German machine-gun team and knocking it out. He survived the war and died in 1967 near Abbotsford, British Columbia, at the age of 79.

“As a Canadian born, like Robert Hanna, in Northern Ireland, I am honoured that his Victoria Cross will be preserved and displayed by the Museum for the benefit of all Canadians,” said Cyril Woods.

The Museum also holds the Victoria Crosses awarded to Sergeant Frederick Hobson, Corporal Filip Konowal and Private Harry Brown for actions after the Battle of Hill 70. The Victoria Cross awarded to Acting Major Okill Massey Learmonth is held by the Governor General’s Foot Guards Regimental Museum, also in Ottawa. The Victoria Cross awarded to Private Michael James O’Rourke has been missing since the 1920s.

With this acquisition, the Canadian War Museum now holds 39 of the 99 Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians. The Museum is currently working on plans for a display of the Hill 70 Victoria Crosses, to be unveiled in 2019.

The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Its mission is to promote public understanding of Canada’s military history in its personal, national and international dimensions. Work of the Canadian War Museum is made possible in part through financial support of the Government of Canada.

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Media contacts:

Josée Prevost
Senior Communications and Media Relations Officer
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819-776-8687
Email: josee.prevost@warmuseum.ca

Avra Gibbs Lamey
Acting Manager, Public Affairs
Canadian War Museum
Telephone: 819-776-8607
Email: avra.gibbs-lamey@warmuseum.ca

For the Hill 70 Memorial Project
Mark Hutchings
Chairman
Telephone: 613-546-4567
hutch@bell.net