18 Facts About Stanley Hollis

Stanley Elton Hollis VC was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Stanley Hollis had the distinction of receiving the only Victoria Cross awarded for actions on D-Day.

Stanley Hollis was born in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, where he lived and attended the local school until 1926.

Stanley Hollis made regular voyages to West Africa, but in 1930 fell ill with blackwater fever, which ended his merchant navy career.

Stanley Hollis was promoted from lance corporal to sergeant during the evacuation from Dunkirk.

Stanley Hollis then fought from El Alamein to Tunis as part of the British Eighth Army in the North African Campaign.

Stanley Hollis was made company sergeant major shortly before the invasion of Sicily in 1943, where he was wounded at the battle of Primosole Bridge.

Stanley Hollis rushed the first, taking all but five of the occupants prisoner; and then dealt with the second, taking 26 prisoners.

Stanley Hollis instantly rushed straight at the pillbox, firing his Sten gun.

Stanley Hollis jumped on top of the pillbox, re-charged his magazine, threw a grenade in through the door and fired his Sten gun into it, killing two Germans and taking the remainder prisoner.

Stanley Hollis then cleared several Germans from a neighbouring trench.

Stanley Hollis was put in command of a party to cover an attack on the gun, but the movement was held up.

Stanley Hollis was observed by a sniper who fired and grazed his right cheek, and at the same moment the gun swung round and fired into the house.

Stanley Hollis later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house and immediately volunteered to get them out.

Stanley 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.

Stanley Hollis then became a partner in a motor repair business in Darlington, before becoming a ship's engineer from 1950 to 1955.

Stanley Hollis next trained as a publican, and ran the 'Albion' public house in Market Square, North Ormesby: the pub's name was changed to 'The Green Howard'.

Stanley Hollis died on 8 February 1972, and was laid to rest in Acklam Cemetery, Middlesbrough.