British Columbia History

FRONT WORDS

1 BC War Hero Honoured in Northern Ireland

he son of a Canadian war hero has unveiled a stone statue of his father in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland. Robert Hill Hanna immigrated to BC from County Down in 1905, and at age 27 enlisted with the 29th Battalion in Vancouver. His November 1914 attestation papers describe him as a “lumberman” with fair hair and blue eyes, standing 5 feet 7-½ inches (171 cm) tall. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts at the 1917 Battle of Hill 70 in northern France.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from British Columbia History

British Columbia History6 min read
A Match Not Made in Heaven
As the dark storm clouds of the Chinese Exclusion Act1 descended upon the Chinese community in 1923, they ignited an incredible drama: a story of love, loss, conflict and two sensational, headline-grabbing courtroom dramas. At the centre of this stor
British Columbia History3 min read
Extension Chinatown
Nanaimo Chinatown, established in the 1860s, served as a hub for smaller nearby Chinese communities. The coal industry was a significant employer in Nanaimo and the surrounding region, and coal mining communities with Chinatowns sprung up in nearby W
British Columbia History5 min read
Not So Uncommon an Oath: The "Chicken Oath" in BC Chinese Canadians' Testimonies
In 1939, a reporter for the Province newspaper wrote a small piece on the special role of different language interpreters in Vancouver courts. He interviewed court translator Gordon Cumyow, the son of the legendary Won Alexander Cumyow.1 A serious to

Related