Some photos of the farmhuse and garden where Stan Hollis won his Victoria Cross on D-Day View attachment 49258 View attachment 49259
Excellent photos Nigel. Hollis was from my home town of Middlesbrough. Here's his citation: Citation, CSM Stan Hollis, Green Howards the only man to win the VC on D-day. Gold Beach "During the assault on the beaches and the Mont Fleury battery, CSM Hollis's company commander noticed that two of the pill boxes had been bypassed, and went with CSM Hollis to see that they were clear. When they were 20 yards from the pillbox a machine-gun opened fire from the slit, and CSM Hollis instantly rushed straight to the pillbox, recharged his magazine, threw a grenade through the door and fired his Sten gun into it, killing two Germans and taking the remander prisoner. He then cleared several Germans from a neighbouring trench. By his action he undoubtedly saved the company from being heavily fired on from the rear, and enebled them to open the main beach exit. Later the same day, in the village of Crepon, the company encountered a field gun and crew, armed with Spandaus, at a hundred yards' range. CSM Hollis was put in command of a party to cover an attack on the gun, but the movement was held up. Seeing this, CSM Hollis pushed right forward to engage the gun with a PIAT [Projector Infantry Anti-tank] from a house at 50 yards range. He was observed by a sniper who fired and grazed his right cheek, and at the same time the gun swung round and fired at point blank range into the house. To avoid the falling masonry CSM Hollis moved his party to an alternative position. Two of the enemy gun crew had by this time been killed, and the gun was destroyed shortly afterwards. He later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house, and immediately volunteered to get them out. In full view of the enemy, who were continually firing at him, he went forward alone using only a Bren gun to distract their attention from the other men. Under cover of his diversions the two men were able to get back. "Wherever fighting was heaviest CSM Hollis appeared, and in the course of a magnificent day's work he displayed the utmost gallantry, and on two separate occasions his courage and initiative prevented the enemy from holding up the advance at critical stages. It was largely through his heroism and resource that the company's objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier and, by his own bravery, he saved the lives of many of his men".
There's a picture in one of the ATB D-Day volumes of Hollis pointing to where a bullet struck the wall when he looked around it. IIRC he received a small wound near the eye from it.
Hi Owen,yes we visited the hut-do you know it used to be a train station? We went from there straight inland,got a photo of lavatory pan villa,past mont fleury battery and the battery at marefontaine on the way to crepon
Hi Owen,yes we visited the hut-do you know it used to be a train station? We went from there straight inland,got a photo of lavatory pan villa,past mont fleury battery and the battery at marefontaine on the way to crepon Yeah, they thought the train halt was a bunker. We were there last October. See my pics here. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/336258-post61.html
Excellent photos Nigel. Hollis was from my home town of Middlesbrough. Here's his citation: Citation, CSM Stan Hollis, Green Howards the only man to win the VC on D-day. Gold Beach "During the assault on the beaches and the Mont Fleury battery, CSM Hollis's company commander noticed that two of the pill boxes had been bypassed, and went with CSM Hollis to see that they were clear. When they were 20 yards from the pillbox a machine-gun opened fire from the slit, and CSM Hollis instantly rushed straight to the pillbox, recharged his magazine, threw a grenade through the door and fired his Sten gun into it, killing two Germans and taking the remander prisoner. He then cleared several Germans from a neighbouring trench. By his action he undoubtedly saved the company from being heavily fired on from the rear, and enebled them to open the main beach exit. Later the same day, in the village of Crepon, the company encountered a field gun and crew, armed with Spandaus, at a hundred yards' range. CSM Hollis was put in command of a party to cover an attack on the gun, but the movement was held up. Seeing this, CSM Hollis pushed right forward to engage the gun with a PIAT [Projector Infantry Anti-tank] from a house at 50 yards range. He was observed by a sniper who fired and grazed his right cheek, and at the same time the gun swung round and fired at point blank range into the house. To avoid the falling masonry CSM Hollis moved his party to an alternative position. Two of the enemy gun crew had by this time been killed, and the gun was destroyed shortly afterwards. He later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house, and immediately volunteered to get them out. In full view of the enemy, who were continually firing at him, he went forward alone using only a Bren gun to distract their attention from the other men. Under cover of his diversions the two men were able to get back. "Wherever fighting was heaviest CSM Hollis appeared, and in the course of a magnificent day's work he displayed the utmost gallantry, and on two separate occasions his courage and initiative prevented the enemy from holding up the advance at critical stages. It was largely through his heroism and resource that the company's objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier and, by his own bravery, he saved the lives of many of his men". A very brave man indeed! Amongst my 50th (Northumbrian ) Division reading possesions is a clipping from the Daily Telegraph dated the 5 March 1982, titled 'D-Day V.C. brings widow £32,000'. The article states: "The courage which won CSM Stanley Hollis, of the Green Howards, the only D-Day Victoria Cross brought his widow a record £32,000 yesterday. She decided reluctantly to send the medal and seven others for auction, 11 years after his death, to help make ends meet..." It then goes on to expalin how the VC was won, which is covered in the above quote and then... "After the war he took over a public house in North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, the name of which he changed to the Green Howards. His widow Alice, now 70, who still lives in the area, said she had received a stream of abusive letters about the auction and was writing to the Queen to explain her action." I read elsewhere that Stanley Hollis felt let down by successive governments treatment of ex-servicemen and before dying had told his wife, Alice, to sell the medals. RIP CSM Stanley Hollis VC Best, Steve.
Sept 21, 2012 Service to mark Stan Hollis's birth 100 years ago Special service set to mark VC hero Stan’s birth 100 years on - Local News - News - Gazette Live PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)
Good news, http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2012/12/29/stan-hollis-middlesbrough-memorial-plans-get-under-way-84229-32512127/
Middlesbrough 'Evening Gazette' currently compiling another LIST, this time "50 Greatest Teessiders" Joint Eleventh - Stan Hollis and three other Teesside VC's - Sgt Edward Cooper of KRRC 1917, Private Tom Dresser, of the 7th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, won the VC in 1917 at the Battle of Arras, Private William Short was 31 and in the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment during the Battle of the Somme awarded a posthumous VC in 1916 See Countdown of Teesside's 50 greatest: 50 - 11 - Local News - News - Gazette Live PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)
Wilf Shaw has asked me to post this. Much more information about Stan Hollis. Wilf says "Sgt Major Stan Hollis VC was company Sgt Major of D Company of the 6th Battalion Green Howards-I was in the same Battalion but in Support Company, as Signaller to the Anti-Tank platoon. A friend of mine, also from Oldham, was in the same company as Stan Hollis, his name and rank was Corporal John Gregory. He was killed in action 5 days later". Article by Tony Rennell from the Mail Online, 27 December 2012 Man the Nazis could not kill: A giant with a volcanic temper, he shot 100 enemy and won a VC - but hated being a hero Sergeant-Major Stan Hollis, of Middlesbrough was the only soldier awarded a VC at D-Day and is believed to have gunned down 100 German soldiers. GREGORY, JOHN Rank: Corporal Service No: 3529273 Date of Death: 11/06/1944 Age: 24 Regiment/Service: Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)6th Bn. Grave Reference XI. K. 12. Cemetery BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY
Bar at 'Legion Club' Middlesbrough named for Stan Hollis VC http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2013/02/05/middlesbrough-bar-named-after-victoria-cross-hero-stan-hollis-84229-32748030/ PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)
D-Day: Middlesbrough's unassuming VC hero Stan Hollis [SIZE=1.231em]By Catherine LeeBBC News[/SIZE] Sgt Maj Stan Hollis 'displayed daring and gallantry' Continue reading the main story Related Stories Council approve D-Day hero statue Durham Normandy veterans disband Countless acts of bravery took place on D-Day, but those of Sgt Major Stan Hollis have been held up as an "example of how, in the pendulum of battle, one man's actions can really change its course". That's how retired Brigadier John Powell, of the Green Howards, describes his former comrade - the only soldier among the D-Day invasion to be awarded the Victoria Cross. The 31-year-old from Middlesbrough - who had already fought at Dunkirk and in North Africa - was commended for two acts of valour. He cleared a pillbox and trenches north of Ver-sur-Mer, taking a number of prisoners, and later rescued comrades under fire in the village of Crépon. After the war, the unassuming hero rarely spoke about what he had done. His granddaughter Mandy Hart said: "I just knew him as my grandfather. "He was very quiet, but I always remember him with a big smile on his face. The Green Howards memorial in Crépon is said to depict Stan Hollis "The medal wasn't a massive thing in the family, it wasn't really talked about a great deal. As children, we just accepted it was there. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote Hollis displayed daring and gallantry... he saved the lives of many of his men” From the VC citation of Stan Hollis "He used to save bottle tops and send them off [to raise money] for the blind, and the medal was just kept there in the drawer, with all these bottle tops." She added: "My grandmother used to love going to all the ceremonies and things, she'd get a new hat and coat and shoes. "But he only went because she wanted to go, he wasn't very interested." On the morning of 6 June 1944, Sgt Major Hollis landed in Normandy with the Green Howards as part of the massive D-Day invasion. As the men advanced inland, they were pinned down by machine gun fire from a pillbox and he was described as "charging across the open ground with a Sten gun". Sgt Major Hollis also served in North Africa and at Dunkirk Sgt Major Hollis later said: "They fired back at me and missed. I don't know if they were more panic-stricken than me. "I got on top of [the pillbox] and threw a grenade through the slit and it must have shaken them up a bit. They were quite willing to forget about the war, then." Brigadier John Powell said: "Stan then continued along a communication trench, and by that stage the Germans had had enough, probably it was the terrifying sight of seeing Stan charging towards them. "In all there were about 30 prisoners. "Now this action was immensely successful, not only did he save the lives of many in his company but by his actions he allowed this route up to the beach to be cleared. "That was important for the success of D-Day." By the afternoon, British forces had advanced inland to the village of Crépon, where a German field gun had been installed in farmland. The museum at Crépon features a display dedicated to Stan Hollis Sgt Major Hollis and two Bren gunners crawled through a rhubarb patch to capture it, but were forced to retreat when they were fired upon. Realising the two other men were not with him, he returned, and, firing from the hip the whole time, got his men to follow him out. Brigadier John Powell said: "Once again, showing no regard for his own safety, he saved a critical situation." People in Crépon have not forgotten his actions, and part of the museum in the village is given over to a display of Sgt Major Hollis's story. His exploits are less well known on Teesside, but this is likely to change when a bronze statue of him is unveiled in Middlesbrough next year. When Mandy Hart visited Crépon in the run-up to the D-Day anniversary, people would come up to her and thank her personally for everything her grandfather had done for France. During the trip, she said: "I'm even more proud now of what he's done. Mandy Hart visited the site of her grandfather's heroic actions "It's brought it to life for me now, rather than just looking at the pictures and reading the pieces. "I knew that he'd sort of made the beaches accessible to his company but I hadn't realised how much of a difference it had made, how much of a turning point it was on the day. "I'm sitting here in what was the rhubarb patch thinking were the guns placed down here, and would he really be aware that the Germans were there. "And I'm thinking about him landing on the beach in the morning, and how he would have felt by teatime. "This is something I can tell my children. We want what he has done to be passed down through the generations." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-27680604
Hi all, I have posted on this old thread because there seem to be some knowledgeable people posting. I would be extremely grateful if someone could provide a copy or point me in the direction of the original VC recommendation for Stanley Hollis. Gary
Hi Gary There is a TNA file for him: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7232404 Reference: WO 98/8/816 Description: Victoria Cross details of Hollis, Stanley Elton Rank: Warrant Officer Class II(Company Sergeant Major) Regiment: Green Howards (Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) Date of Act Of Bravery: 06 June 1944 Campaign: 1939-1945 War Locale: Mont Fleury Battery and Crepon, Normandy Date: 1900 Feb 02 - 1944 Sep 01 Held by: The National Archives, Kew Former reference in its original department Volume 3 Legal status: Public Record You can either download it yourself or ask one on the many members here you are regular visitors to TNA to copy it for you TD
