D-Day Hero : CSM Stanley Hollis VC

by MORGAN MIKE

• ISBN13: 9780750936941
• ISBN10: 0750936940
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-09-15
• Publisher: Sutton Pub Ltd

Summary

D-Day saw Hollis create history with his inimitable brand of raw courage, being involved in two blistering VC actions. During the vanguard of the primary assault on Gold Beach, he single-handedly stormed a hidden German pillbox, saving his company from certain death and enabling them to open up the main beach exit. Later that day, he saved the lives of two more comrades trapped by heavy enemy gunfire. Fully illustrated with rare archive photographs, this biography of a great British Second World War soldier shows the real man behind the heroic image. Mike Morgan has received the Hollis family's and The Green Howards' full cooperation and draws exclusively on personal papers, records, interviews and other memorabilia.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Field Marshal Lord Inge	vii
A Modern View of Heroes by General Sir Michael Walker	xi
Campaign Map	xiii
Preface	xv
Acknowledgements	xvii
Prologue D-Day Cataclysm	1	(10)
One A Rebellious Yorkshire Upbringing	11	(10)
Two A Truly Indestructible Soldier	21	(18)
Three Storm of Retribution	39	(12)
Four A Fearless Fighting Legend	51	(18)
Five Stan's Courage Inspired D-Day Victory	69	(18)
Six Suicide Attacks	87	(8)
Seven The Man They Couldn't Kill	95	(16)
Eight Our Hero through the Years	111	(22)
Nine Stan's Legend Lives On	133	(8)
Epilogue	141	(2)
Appendices
I Stan's Official Citation	143	(2)
II A Short History of The Green Howards	145	(6)
III Gold Beach, Normandy, 6 June 1944 - Order of Battle	151	(2)
IV The Green Howards Second World War Medal Winners	153	(6)
V The Green Howards 6th Battalion Fighting Service during the Second World War	159	(4)
VI The Green Howards Normandy Roll of Honour	163	(2)
Bibliography	165	(2)
Index	167