234907 Anders Frederick Emil Victor Schau LASSEN, VC, MC**, 62 Commando, SAS, SBS

I've been wanting to draw Lassen VC for some time, this is him 1/2 way through, the drawing is more subtle than my scan

 

Very nice portrait, spot on.

Heard they were planning on making a film about him.

 

And the end product!

Thanks for looking!

 

Personal Number: 234907
Rank: Major
Name: Anders Frederick Emil Victor Schau LASSEN, VC, MC*
Unit: Special Boat Squadron


London Gazette : 28 January 1943

London Gazette : 8 October 1943

London Gazette : 7 September 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37254/supplement/4469/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:—
Major (temporary) Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau LASSEN, M.C. (234907), General List.

London Gazette : 21 February 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37476/page/1049/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field: —
The Military Cross
Second Lieutenant Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau LASSEN (234907), General List (to be dated 7th December, 1942).

London Gazette : 27 June 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37997/supplement/2933/data.pdf
INFANTRY.
The Buffs.
War Subs. Lt. A. F. E. V. S. LASSEN, V.C., M.C. (234907) (now dec'd) from Gen. List to be War Subs. L t., 1st Mar. 1943, and receives pay and allces. from Army Funds.

 

Came across this Danish Special Forces memorial website of the Anders Lassen Foundation; it is partly dedicated to;

There is a detailed biography and the opening webpage has soren1941's portrait! She has not been here since 2015.
Link: Home_UK

There are several posts on him scattered around this website.

 

One here:
Victoria Cross awarded in Italy, April 1945.

 

Recommendation for Award for Lassen, Anders Frederic Emil Victor Schau Rank: ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/93/1440
Name Lassen, Anders Frederic Emil Victor Schau
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Service No: 234907
Regiment: Small Scale Raiding Force
Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List For gallant and distinguished Services in the Field
Award: Military Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 28 January 1943


Recommendation for Award for Lassen, Andreas Frederick Emil Victor Shau Rank: ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/47/545
Name Lassen, Andreas Frederick Emil Victor Shau
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment: General List while with the Special Boat Squadron 1 SAS Regiment
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Middle East (Special Operations)
Award: Second Bar to Military Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 21 February 1946

 

Recommendation for Award for Lassen, Anders Frederick Emil Victor Schau Rank: ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/62/560
Name Lassen, Anders Frederick Emil Victor Schau
Rank: Lieutenant
Service No: 234907
Regiment: Special Boat Squadron Raiding Forces Middle East
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Escape and Evasion and Special Operations
Award: Bar to Military Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 08 October 1943



.

 

Recommendation for Award for Lassen, Anders Fredrick Emil Victor Schau Rank: ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/47/530
Name Lassen, Anders Fredrick Emil Victor Schau
Rank: Captain
Service No: 239807
Regiment: General List
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy
Award: Victoria Cross
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 07 September 1945


London Gazette : 7 September 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37254/supplement/4469/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:—
Major (temporary) Anders Frederik Emil Victor Schau LASSEN, M.C. (234907), General List.
In Italy, on the night of 8th/9th April, 1945, Major Lassen was ordered to take out a patrol of one officer and seventeen other ranks to raid the north shore of Lake Oomacchio.

His tasks were to cause as many casualties and as much confusion as possible, to give the impression of a major landing, and to capture prisoners. No previous reconnaissance was possible, and the party found itself on a narrow road flanked on both sides by water.

Preceded by two scouts, Major Lassen led his men along the road towards the town. They were challenged after approximately 500 yards from a position on the side of the road. An attempt to allay suspicion by answering that they were fishermen returning home failed, for when moving forward again to overpower the sentry, machine-gun fire started from the position, and also from two other blockhouses to the rear.

Major Lassen himself then attacked with grenades, and annihilated the first position containing four Germans and two machine-guns. Ignoring the hail of bullets sweeping the road from three enemy positions,, an additional one having come into action from 300 yards down the road, he raced forward to engage the second position under covering fire from the remainder of the force. Throwing in more grenades he silenced this position which was then overrun by his patrol. Two enemy were killed, two captured and two more machine-guns silenced.

By this time the force had suffered casualties and its fire power was very con
siderably reduced. Still under a heavy cone of fire Major Lassen rallied and reorganised his force and brought his fire to bear on the third position. Moving forward himself he flung in more grenades which produced a cry of " Kamerad ". He then went forward to within three or four yards of the position to order the enemy outside, and to take their surrender.

Whilst shouting to them to come out he was hit by a burst of spandau fire from the. left of the position and he fell mortally wounded, but even whilst falling he flung a grenade, wounding some of the occupants, and enabling his patrol to dash in and capture this final position.

Major Lassen refused to be evacuated as he said it would impede the withdrawal and endanger further lives, and as ammunition was nearly exhausted the force had to withdraw.

By his magnificent leadership and complete disregard for his personal safety, Major Lassen had, in the face of over-whelming superiority, achieved his objects. Three positions were wiped out, accounting for six machine guns, killing eight and wounding others of the enemy, and two prisoners were taken. The 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 all the tasks he had been given with complete success.

 

Casualty
Major LASSEN, ANDERS FREDERICK EMIL V. SCHAU
Service Number 234907
Died 09/04/1945
Aged 24
Special Boat Service, S.A.S. Regiment, A.A.C.
V C, M C and 2 Bars
Son of Emil Victor Schau Lassen and Suzanne Maria Signe Lassen, of Nyhavn, Copenhagen, Denmark.
INSCRIPTION: KAEMP FOR ALT HVAD DU HAR KAERT DO OM SAA DET GAELDER DA ER LIVET EJ SAA SVAERT DODEN IKKE HELLER
Buried at ARGENTA GAP WAR CEMETERY
Location: Italy
Number of casualties: 618
Cemetery/memorial reference: II, E, 11.
See cemetery plan

 

See also

• 1469628 Raymond Walter JONES, MM, Royal Artillery attached Special Boat Squadron

 

Thanks to a reader (not on here) I have learnt that Pen & Sword have published a book on him, in February 2021, by Thomas Harder. For details see: Special Forces Hero which includes three reviews. There are a number of threads on him, seven in the special forces area and this appears to be the main thread.

The book was originally published in Danish.

 

For all who pass this way,



Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

Anders Lassen's mother Suzanne Lassen wrote two books on her son's life, publications which may now be as hen's teeth.

1951 Anders Lassen,Somand og Soldat (Sailor and Soldier) published by Gyldendal (Denmark)

1965 Anders Lassen VC, translated by Inger Hack and published by Frederick Muller

Then in1988 Mike Langley known as a sportswriter postwar penned his own work, published by the New English Library, on Lassen as Anders Lassen VC and MC (two Bars).

Langley's military background was that as an eighteen year old he sailed on D Day as a volunteer in a special services unit that saw action along the Orne and in the struggle for Caen.

Incidentally, Ander's father, Emil had two sisters, Jenny and Estrid, who married into German families before the Great War. Jenny married into the von dem Bussche family. Axel von dem Bussche, the anti Hitler conspirator who survived the July 1944 plot was Anders Lassen's first cousin

 

Anders Lassen's mother Suzanne Lassen wrote two books on her son's life, publications which may now be as hen's teeth.

1951 Anders Lassen,Somand og Soldat (Sailor and Soldier) published by Gyldendal (Denmark)

1965 Anders Lassen VC, translated by Inger Hack and published by Frederick Muller

Then in1988 Mike Langley known as a sportswriter postwar penned his own work, published by the New English Library, on Lassen as Anders Lassen VC and MC (two Bars).

Langley's military background was that as an eighteen year old he sailed on D Day as a volunteer in a special services unit that saw action along the Orne and in the struggle for Caen.

Incidentally, Ander's father, Emil had two sisters, Jenny and Estrid, who married into German families before the Great War. Jenny married into the von dem Bussche family. Axel von dem Bussche, the anti Hitler conspirator who survived the July 1944 plot was Anders Lassen's first cousin.

Second attempt to upload, the first appeared to be paused.

 

Hi

Major Lassen almost signal handedly liberated the Greek second city of Salonika in November 1944 (Op KELSO).

He was sent to Crete in early December 1944 to keep an eye on the Germans who were still garrisoned there (SENFORCE).

Apparently, in late February/early March 1945, whilst acting as Military Governor of Crete, he secured a non-aggression pact between ELAS and the Germans which meant he could go off to Italy and the rest is history.

Hope this helps

Gus

 

The YouTube link on Post 13 fails to work and the 1hr long documentary is available on: and a shorter one about Crete (31mins):

Both are by Thomas Harder and his bio is under 'speakers' on: Special Forces Hero – Anders Lassen VC, MC**. - The Danish-UK Association

 

I tipped my hat at his grave in Argenta CWGC Cemetery only last week.

Frank