On 6th June 1944, CSM Stanley Hollis led his men of 6th Bn, Green Howards, down this sunken lane, just to the south of the #Normandy village of Cristot.
A short 🧵
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#SWW #WW2 #GreenHowards #OpNob3
The lane continued across a quiet road, running out of the village. Just a 100 yds further along it was positioned a German machine gun post (possibly MG42), manned by two soldiers from 12th SS. Hollis and his men were immediately fired upon.
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#SWW #WW2 #OpNob3
The m-g was positioned where the corrugated iron can be seen at the end of the lane in this photo.
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#SWW #WW2 #GreenHowards #OpNob3 #Normandy
Hollis - who had already probably secured his VC, following two other incredible feats of bravery that day - reached into his bag and pulled out a grenade, which he threw towards the m-g post.
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#SWW #WW2 #GreenHowards #OpNob3 #Normandy
Alas, in the stress of the situation, he had forgotten to remove the pin, first.
Of course, the two 12th SS machine gunners didn’t know that, though.
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#SWW #WW2 #GreenHowards #OpNob3 #Normandy
As they ducked for cover, Hollis charged their position and killed them both with his Sten gun.
If his VC wasn’t already secured, it was now.
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#SWW #WW2 #GreenHowards #OpNob3 #Normandy
*11th June. He was recommended for VC on 6th. This might’ve cemented it.
*5 days previously.
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