The Northern Echo : News, Sport, Business, Leisure from the North East and North Yorkshire

Granddaughter tells of VC hero

From the Northern Echo, first published Saturday 23rd Jun 2001.

THE granddaughter of D-Day hero Stan Hollis is helping youngsters learn more about his regiment's gallant history.

Sergeant Amanda Hart helps run the Saltburn detachment of the Cleveland Cadet Force and wears the same cap badge as her late grandfather, a Green Howard.

She joined the cadets from Guisborough, east Cleveland, to explore the history of the regiment at the Green Howards Museum, in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

She was proud to show the cadets her grandfather's Victoria Cross, on display in an exhibition which has brought together all 18 of the regiment's VCs for the first time.

Stan Hollis was the only soldier to win the VC on D-Day. He was awarded it for acts of bravery at Crépon, where he rescued two of his men trapped by enemy fire, and earlier at Gold Beach, where he almost single-handedly captured two pillboxes.

The visitors were part of a programme which will see all the Green Howards cadets in Teesside and North Yorkshire attend the museum this month.

The trips are organised by museum curator Roger Chapman, who said: "We were delighted to welcome Amanda, and very pleased that she is following in her grandfather's footsteps in wearing the Green Howards badge."

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