<P> Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart VC , KBE , CB , CMG , DSO ( 5 May 1880 -- 5 June 1963 ) was a British Army officer born of Belgian and Irish parents , and recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest military decoration awarded for valour `` in the face of the enemy '' in various Commonwealth countries . He served in the Boer War , First World War , and Second World War ; was shot in the face , head , stomach , ankle , leg , hip , and ear ; survived two plane crashes ; tunnelled out of a prisoner - of - war camp ; and tore off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them . Describing his experiences in the First World War , he wrote , `` Frankly I had enjoyed the war . '' </P>
<P> Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart VC , KBE , CB , CMG , DSO ( 5 May 1880 -- 5 June 1963 ) was a British Army officer born of Belgian and Irish parents , and recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest military decoration awarded for valour `` in the face of the enemy '' in various Commonwealth countries . He served in the Boer War , First World War , and Second World War ; was shot in the face , head , stomach , ankle , leg , hip , and ear ; survived two plane crashes ; tunnelled out of a prisoner - of - war camp ; and tore off his own fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them . Describing his experiences in the First World War , he wrote , `` Frankly I had enjoyed the war . '' </P>
a british soldier who fought in both world wars
a british soldier who fought in both world wars
Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart
Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart