05 July 2009

Victoria Cross: L. G. Hawker

LANOE GEORGE HAWKER, DSO

Captain, Royal Engineers; No 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps

Born: 30 December 1890, Longparish, Hampshire
Died: 23 November 1916, near Bapaume, France

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and very great ability on 25th July, 1915.
When flying alone [near Passchendaele, Belgium] he attacked three German aeroplanes in succession. The first managed eventually to escape, the second was driven to ground damaged, and the third, which he attacked at a height of about 10,000 feet, was driven to earth in our lines, the pilot and observer being killed.
The personal bravery shown by this Officer was of the very highest order, as the enemy's aircraft were armed with machine guns, and all carried a passenger as well as the pilot.

[London Gazette issue 29273 dated 24 Aug 1915, published 24 Aug 1915.]


Note: Major Lanoe G Hawker VC DSO was killed in action near Bapaume, France, on 23 Nov 1916. His Airco DH.2 was the 11th aerial victory of Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen.

1 comment:

Old Curmudgeon said...

Just found your blog while looking for info on MOH for Marine Sgt Christopher Nugent. Found out about him from local Civil War (USN) reenactors.

I'm with a group of boatbuilders using traditional methods to build replicas of Civil War era small craft -- we have our shop at a state park in Crystal River FL. We are sponsored by the Florida Public Archeological Network.

You should stop in to see us (maybe next January and while here you can attend the Burns Dinner at the local -- Inverness -- Elks)!

whalen
ex-QM2(SS)
retired librarian