Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen
Major General, List. Attached to Special Boat Service, No. 1 SAS Regiment
- Register No.
- 717 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Major General (register: Temp. Major) all Major-Generals →
- Unit
- List. Attached to Special Boat Service, No. 1 SAS Regiment (register: Special Air Service) all Special Air Service VCs →
- Date of action
- 8–9 April 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 7th September, 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 22nd September 1920 at Baekkeskov, South Zealand, Denmark
- Died
- in action (died of wounds) at Lake Comacchio, Italy
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- grave in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy. A forest was named after him in Israel. There is also a stone, to his memory, in the grounds of St Peter's Chapel, Praesto Fjiord, Denmark
Digest of citation
At Lake Comacchio, Italy, on 8th April 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to lead a patrol in a raid on the lake's north shore. The object being to cause as many casualties and as much confusion as possible, giving the impression that a major landing was in progress. In the face of overwhelming enemy numbers he fulfilled the mission, wiping out three positions. He refused to be evacuated when he was mortally wounded so that his men's lives would not be endangered and their withdrawal would not be impeded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LASSEN, Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau. (reg No. 717).
Major. General List. Attached to Special Boat Service, No. 1 SAS Regiment.
London Gazetted on 7th September, 1945.
Born on 22nd September 1920 at Baekkeskov, South Zealand, Denmark.
Killed in action (died of wounds) at Lake Comacchio, Italy.
Memorial at grave in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy. A forest was named after him in Israel. There is also a stone, to his memory, in the grounds of St Peter's Chapel, Praesto Fjiord, Denmark.
Digest of Citation reads: At Lake Comacchio, Italy, on 8th April 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to lead a patrol in a raid on the lake's north shore. The object being to cause as many casualties and as much confusion as possible, giving the impression that a major landing was in progress. In the face of overwhelming enemy numbers he fulfilled the mission, wiping out three positions. He refused to be evacuated when he was mortally wounded so that his men's lives would not be endangered and their withdrawal would not be impeded.
Additional information:. Major Lassen also held the Military Cross (MC) and two Bars. He was one of three Danes to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Additional information
Major Lassen also held the Military Cross (MC) and two Bars. He was one of three Danes to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy. A forest was named after him in Israel. There is also a stone, to his memory, in the grounds of St Peter's Chapel, Praesto Fjiord, Denmark
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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