Major John Hanson Receiving the Military Cross

Name/Title

Major John Hanson Receiving the Military Cross

Entry/Object ID

2016x.52.89

Description

A black and white photo of Major John Hanson being decorated with the Military Cross in the field by Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, the commander of the British forces in France. Major Hanson who started his service with The Royal Montreal Regiment went on to serve as a company commander with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in Normandy.

Photograph Details

Subject Person or Organization

Hanson, John Philip, Montgomery, Bernard, Law

Subject Place

* Untyped Subject Place

Normandy, France

Continent

Europe

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1944

Research Notes

Notes

The Parachute Regiment had their own distinctive uniform: the maroon beret at first with the Army Air Corps cap badge and from May 1943 the Parachute Regiment cap badge which is still in use today. Parachute wings were worn on the right shoulder above the airborne forces patch of Bellerophon riding the flying horse Pegasus. Both the Parachute Wings and the Pegasus patch can be seen in this photo at the top of Major Hanson's right sleeve.