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~SOLD~DINESEN Thomas Fasti
Private Thomas Fasti Dinesen
Thomas Fasti Dinesen was born in Rungsted, Denmark, on November 9, 1892. He was educated at Rungsted State School and at the Polytechnical School of Copenhagen, from which he graduated as a civil engineer in 1916.
As Denmark was a neutral country during the war, and in light of his own desire to fight, Dinesen attempted to enlist in the British and French armies, who turned him down. He then travelled to America in 1917, where he again tried to enlist, this time with the United States forces, but was again denied. Through the Canadian Recruiting Office in New York, however, he enlisted in the Canadian forces as a private in the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) of Canada.
Upon arrival in France, Dinesen was transferred to the 42nd Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada. He was in action around the town of Parvillers, France, on August 12, 1918, during the Battle of Amiens.
Citation:
"For most conspicuous and continuous bravery displayed during ten hours of hand-to-hand fighting, which resulted in the capture of over a mile of strongly garrisoned and stubbornly defended enemy trenches.
"Five times in succession he rushed forward alone, and single-handed put hostile machine guns out of action, accounting for twelve of the enemy with bomb and bayonet. His sustained valour and resourcefulness inspired his comrades at a very critical stage of the action, and were an example to all." - Victoria Cross citation, The London Gazette, October 26, 1918
Dinesen was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre for the same action, and later achieved the rank of First Lieutenant.
Following the war, Dinesen, who was also the brother of noted writer Karen Blixen (who wrote under the pen name of Isak Dinesen), moved to Kenya, where he worked as a farmer and civil engineer. He then returned to Denmark and took up writing. He is most well-known for two of his works, the first a memoir of his time as a soldier in the Canadian Corps (first published in Dutch in 1929, and in English in 1930 as "Merry Hell! A Dane With the Canadians"), the second a biography of his famous sister.
Thomas Fasti Dinesen died March 10, 1970, in Denmark.
Signed newspaper clipping mounted on grey construction paper measuring 5 ¼” x 10”
Information courtesy of www.vac-acc.gc.ca
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