Anders Lassen
Recipient of the Victoria Cross
Died when: 24 years 199 days (294 months)Star Sign: Libra
Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau Lassen, VC, MC & Two Bars (22 September 1920 – 9 April 1945) was a highly decorated Danish soldier, who was the only non-Commonwealth recipient of the British Victoria Cross in the Second World War.
He was posthumously awarded the United Kingdom's highest gallantry award for his actions during Operation Roast on 8 April 1945 at Lake Comacchio in Italy in the final weeks of the Italian campaign.
The Danish officer was ordered to lead a raid that would give the impression that a major landing was being undertaken.
Lassen fulfilled his mission in the face of overwhelming enemy numbers by single-handedly taking out three enemy positions before being mortally wounded.
As his men's lives would be endangered in the withdrawal, he refused to be evacuated from the area.