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Major ANDERS FREDERICK EMIL V. SCHAU LASSEN

Service Number: 234907
Regiment & Unit/Ship

Special Boat Service, S.A.S. Regiment, A.A.C.

Date of Death

Died 09 April 1945

Age 24 years old

Buried or commemorated at

ARGENTA GAP WAR CEMETERY

II, E, 11.

Italy

S&ERM Visit to WMA - 9-12 February 2009: Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy

Photographer: S&ERM

  • Country of Service United Kingdom
  • Awards Victoria Cross, Military Cross and 2 Bars
  • Additional Info Son of Emil Victor Schau Lassen and Suzanne Maria Signe Lassen, of Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Personal Inscription KAEMP FOR ALT HVAD DU HAR KAERT DO OM SAA DET GAELDER DA ER LIVET EJ SAA SVAERT DODEN IKKE HELLER
  • Additional Citation note

    The London Gazette of 4th September, 1945, gives the following particulars: In Italy, on the night of 8th/9th April, 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to take out a patrol and raid the north shore of Lake Comacchio. His task was to cause casualties, capture prisoners and give the impression of a major landing. The patrol was challenged and came under machine-gun fire. Major Lassen himself attacked with grenades and silenced two enemy posts, capturing two prisoners and killing several Germans. The patrol had suffered casualties and was still under fire. Major Lassen moved forward and flung more grenades into a third enemy position, calling upon the enemy to surrender. He was then hit and mortally wounded, but whilst falling he flung a grenade, wounding more of the enemy and enabling his patrol to capture this last position. Finally, he refused to be evacuated lest he should impede the withdrawal and endanger further lives. His high sense of devotion to duty and the esteem in which he was held by the men he led, added to his own magnificent courage, enabled Major Lassen to carry out with complete success all the tasks he had been given.

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Buried or commemorated at