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Brigadier Percy Howard Hansen VC, DSO, MC, was a Danish-born British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Hansen was born into a wealthy and well-connected Danish family in South Africa. While he was being educated at Eton College, Hansen's father applied for British citizenship so that his son could join the British Army. Following training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Hansen was commissioned into the Lincolnshire Regiment in 1911. Having been promoted to the rank of captain, he served as Adjutant in the 6th Battalion of the regiment during the Gallipoli Campaign. On 9 August 1915 at Yilghin Bumu, Hansen's battalion was forced to pull back from their position while assaulting Scimitar Hill. Scrub-land over which they had been advancing had been set on fire by the Ottoman forces attempting to prevent the British from moving forward. Several wounded British soldiers were left behind in the action. Captain Hansen, with three of four volunteers, dashed forward and back over the 300-400 yards of open scrub several times, successfully rescuing six men from capture or death by burning. This was conducted under heavy small-arms fire from Ottoman soldiers. As a result of his actions, Hansen was awarded the Victoria Cross.
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