George Leopold Hansen was born in Bergen, Norway. After Grade 8, he completed a six-month commercial course and worked as a carpenter, building ships in Norway. In 1927, he immigrated to Canada. He landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in December before heading west to farm with his aunt and uncle, Didrik & Hjertine Jensen, in Fox Valley, Saskatchewan. The Jensen’s moved to Northern Alberta in 1929 and George continued to farm with his uncle until he enlisted in July 1940 in Grande Prairie.
Likely based on his carpentry skills, George was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers. He began training in Calgary with the 10th Field Company and later at Camp Petawawa in Ontario. The 10th Field Company was re-organized as a Field Squadron in February 1941 in the newly formed 1st Canadian Armoured Division (later re-numbered the 5th Canadian Armoured Division). George received pay as a Carpenter Group ‘C’. In England, he completed the NCO Bridge Course learning the skills he would apply for the time he was in action in Italy and Holland. He was granted permission to marry Elizabeth Bennett Taylor in March 1942 and they married in England. Elizabeth was from Glasgow, Scotland and had worked in a bakery in London where she met George.
The 10th Field Squadron left England for Italy in October 1943 destined for Naples. The convoy was attacked from the air on 6 November, sinking one ship carrying Canadians. No lives were lost, but George's ship was delayed for a day as it split from the convoy to help pick up the survivors.
Once ashore in Italy, the Squadron took over well-used equipment and vehicles from the British 7th Armoured Division who were returning to England. They moved over 200 miles southeast to the Taranto area and were attached to the 1st New Zealand Division. Despite having to complete a great deal of vehicle and equipment maintenance, they immediately got to work on bridging and route repair and construction tasks. As the 5th Armoured Division gained strength in Italy, the Squadron moved closer and closer to the front relieving other 8th Army formations. Their first action came on 17 January 1944 supporting the Perth Regiment in an attack in which four NCOs and two sappers were wounded. Later, they distinguished themselves through the Liri Valley Campaign, the Gothic Line and the Battle of the Rivers. In February 1945, they were moved through France to Holland where they again distinguished themselves in the Liberation of that country.
George’s return to Canada was delayed as he was assigned, or volunteered, for the Occupation Force in Germany. Most engineer units were involved in supervising the clearance of land mines by German POWs, route and bridge repair and preparing surplus equipment for shipping or disposal. The George arrived back at Calgary in September. The squadron was disbanded, and Lance Sergeant George Leopold Hansen, MM was discharged on 19 October1945.
George returned to Glen Leslie, purchased land through the Veterans’ Land Act and entered into a farming partnership with an uncle. His wife, Elizabeth, came to Canada on the RMS Aquitania and was processed through immigration at Halifax and arrived in Grande Prairie in March 1946. The young couple settled into their home and continued to farm. They were both very involved with the West Smoky branch of the Royal Canadian Legion No. 244 at Bezanson. George was a member for 34 years and was granted Lifetime Membership in 1975. He also served as President in 1956 and 1957. Elizabeth was a member of the West Smoky Ladies Auxiliary No. 244 and elected as Zone Commander, a position she kept until she passed away in 1956. They had no children and George never remarried. He remained on his farm in Glen Leslie until he passed away on 19 September 1984. They were both buried at the Glen Leslie Cemetery.
From the files of Wanda Zenner with permission.
From 2300 hours, 10 December 1944 until 1, 600 hours, 11 December 1944, Number 2 Troop, 10 Canadian Field Squadron, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers was engaged in building an 80-foot Folding Boat Equipment assault bridge over the River Lamone near Villanova. Heavy mortar fire harassed the bridge area almost continuously during the operation. Mortar bombs landed within ten feet of the bridge, in the water, at the water's edge and on the far bank, causing several casualties. Quiet spells occurred periodically, during which times work was carried out. Lance-Sergeant Hansen was the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the troop, taking over after the Troop Sergeant was wounded. For 16 hours he remained in an exposed position at the bridge site where he could supervise the job. His fine example, coolness and good judgement under heavy fire encouraged his men to return to the site after the many times they had been mortared off. His constat supervision was largely responsible for the successful completion of the bridge on a very difficult site, and the passage of the supporting arms and vehicles essential to the consolidation of the divisional bridgehead over the Lamone River.