DD418 ‘Gold Beach Company Sgt. Major Stanley Hollis V.C.’

     CSM Stan. Hollis (1912-1972) was the only British serviceman to be awarded Britain’s highest millitary honour for his actions on D.Day, June 6, 1944.
     Stan enlisted in the Territorial Army in 1939 and joined ‘The Green Howards’ who were sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) in 1940.
     He was promoted from Lance Corporal to Sergeant during the Dunkirk evacuation.  He was then sent to North Africa as part of the British Eighth Army where he was once again promoted to Company Sergeant Major (C.S.M.) just before the invasion of Sicily in 1943.
     On D.Day in Normandy he landed on ‘Gold Beach’ with the 6th Btn. of the Green Howards.  After landing and moving inland he attacked one German pillbox capturing all but 5 of the defenders.  He then assaulted, on his own, a second pillbox taking another 26 prisoners.
     He next cleared a neighbouring enemy trench.  Later that same day, he led an unsuccessful attack on a strong German artillery position fortified by multiple MG42 machine guns.  All of this in just one day!
     In September 1944 he was wounded in action and evacuated back to the U.K. where he was decorated by King George Ⅵ on October 10, 1944.
     Part of his V.C. citation read, “Wherever fighting was heaviest, C.S. M. Hollis appeared and in the course of a magnificent day’s work, he displayed the utmost gallantry.
     It was largely through his heroism and resource that his company’s objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier.  By his own bravery he saved the lives of many of his men.”
     K&C’s miniature of C.S.M. Hollis is our tribute to a very brave man and a fine British soldier.