World War II D-Day Accounts from the Cornelius Ryan Collection

Everyone knew what he had to do after they got through the marsh. Nobody oddly enough at this stage got hit. On the coastal road in single file on either side of the road they began the advance on the battery. No the casualties were felt- machine guns & mortar fire fell around them. In the next few minutes on this quarter of a mile approach 11 men were hit.

Now 16 platoon turned left to attack the house while 17 and 18 platoon went for the battery. The company commander Major Ronald Lofthouse & Hollis were behind 17 and 18 and when they got near the perimeter pillboxes, they noticed that one pillbox had been bypassed. Hollis spotted two machine guns moving in the slits. He didn't say anything he sprinted across towards the pillboxes & as he started to run they opened fire. Somehow, even though they were firing at 750 rounds a minute they didnt hit him. He flattened against the wall of the pillbox, poked his sten gun into the gun slit and pressing the trigger wound the gun around inside like a hose with his right hand. With his left he yanked a granade from his belt pulled the pin with his

(this page has a hand drawn image)

teeth and tossed it in. Next he jumped on the roof, put another chip on his sten and walking across the top of the pillbox dropped down behind it and yelled "come out you bastards" (There was screams & yells inside the pillbox at his firing) Now the Germans came out through the door at the back of the pillbox. He doesn't know why he didn't shoot them then & then- instead he [crossed out] march [end crossed out] handed them over to other members of the company who had come up.

Just then he spotted a half a dozen more of the enemy running towards him along the communicating trench. He just stood there pointing the stun gun. They too surrendered. In a matter of minutes he had captured 20 and killed two.

By this time, the guns had fallen. Next the company regrouped & continued the advance towards the village of Crepon. They advanced quickly line ahead on either side of the road -- very quickly, no talking. As they approached the village along a narrow lane Hollis saw two dogs about 100 yards ahead fasking about. Hollis was ahead of the company. He quickly held up.

69 Brigade 6 Green Howards "Gold" 50th Northumbian

J.E. Hollis 33 Henry Taylor Court Old Ormesby Middlesbrough Yorks. 8th June '58

Dear Madam, Re your letter of 2nd June '58 I would be pleased to give you any information regarding the happenings on the 6th of June 1944 that I am able to, if you could give me two or three days warning, I would be pleased to meet any of your representatives, I need a little warning as I may not be able to be at home at the time you require me, this can be arranged however if you would let me know in advance when to expect you, as I am a shift worker. Yours Sincerely

J E Hollis

Delighted you are able to help us with D Day book. [crossed out] Could you possible would it be possible for you to would you be grateful if you [end crossed out] Could you possibly telephone me at Mayfair 8144 reverse charges so we can arrange interview. M Thanks. Joan Isaacs

-6Men of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers ( R.E.M.E. ) landed with the first waves, and quickly established beach recovery sections and workshops. The workshop, formed from 30 Corps Troops Workshops and 7th Armoured Troops Workshops, with certain specialist personnel attached, were capable of dealing with all types of equipment. The beaches were under fire and for the first 48 hours they worked without a break under most unpleasant conditions. A particularly gallant action on the part of one of the R.E.M.E. was that of Corporal R.R. Gale of 25 Beach Recovery Section, who cleared a blazing ammunition lorry from a beach exit. He was subsequently awarded the Military Medal. R.E.M.E. had contributed substantially to the success of the assault landing and the subsequent build up.

4 Later the same day, in the village of Crepon, the Company encountered a field gun and crew, armed with spandaus, at a hundred yards range. C.S.M. Hollis was put in command of a party to cover an attack on the gun, but the movement was held up. Seeing this C.S.M. Hollis pushed right forward to engage the gun with a P.I.A.T. from a house at fifty yards range. He was observed by a sniper who fired and grazed his right cheek, and at the same moment the gun swung round and fired at point blank range into the house. To avoid the falling masonry G.3.M. Hollis moved his partyto an alternative position. Two of the enemy gun crew had by this time been killed, and the gun was destroyed shortly afterwards. He later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house, and immediately volunteered to get them out. In full view of the enemy, who were continually firing at him, he went forward alone using a Bren gun to distract their attention from the other men. Under cover of his diversion, the two men were able to get back.

Wherever fighting was heaviest C.S.M. 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. It was largely through his heroism and resource that the Company's objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier, by his own bravery he saved the lives of many of his men."

In addition to Major Lofthouse and C.S.M. Hollis, Lieuts. R. L. Fitzwilliam, L. Loxley and J. A. Kirkpatrick led their platoons with great gallentry, and contributed largely to "D" Company’s success.

"B" Company, following behind the assault companies, rapidly secured its objective, clearing a quarry occupied by the enemy on the way and taking some prisoners.

"C" Company, led by Capt. J.C. Linn, waded ashore thirteen minutes behind the leading companies. By this time the enemy had recovered from his inital suprise and was plastering the high water mark with all the weapons at his disposal. Halfway up the beach Capt. Linn was wounded in the leg, but continued to direct operations from a sitting position until he was hit again and killed. This very gallant and popular company commander was a great loss to the Battalion. Several first class N.C.O.'s, including

Company Sergeant Major Stanley Elton Hollis aged 28 on D-Day was married + had 2 children (boy 10;Brian Elton Pauline girl 5) Been in army since 1939 wife's name Alice married in Feb 1932 address: 33 Henny Taylor Court Old Ormesby Middlesbrough Yorkshire now a sand blaster === saw action in France 1940- evacuated from Dunkirk; fought with 8th Army in Egypt + 11th Africa; than invasion of Sicily and finally D-Day- all with 50th Div

Singlehandedly he had captured gun in Sicily + was mentioned in dispatches He had been wounded 4 times before D-Day Three times he had been asked to take a battlefield commission but it would have meant leaving his 50th div

A tall quiet man of simple tastes he rarely got angry but when he did he seemed to be colder almost oblivious to what was happening around him This generally happened when men of his own battalion- boyhood friend from his town of Middlesborough were killed or wounded He had been known to cry with anger

Holllis Extract from THE STORY OF THE GREEN HOWARDS 1939-1945 by Capt. W.A.T. Synge 6 Bn - 6 Jun 44 Tho next morning reveille was sounded at 3:15 a.m., but few had slept that night, and many were up on deck watching the flashes from the coast, where the bombers were engaging the enemy's coastal batteries. The morning was misty and dull, and features on shore could not be picked out with any distinction. As a result, the beach defences were not demolished or neutralised by the bombing to the extent that had been anticipated. The "Empire Lance" reached her lowering position for the assault craft at about 5 a.m., being than approximately seven miles from the coast. The Companies then transhipped and, as there was a heavy swell running-- the aftermath of the storm-- they spent two very uncomfortable hours in their assault craft, getting wet and being sick. Battalion Headquarters embarded in a L.C.M.(Landing Craft Mechanised), which was attached to a derrick by a large hook weighing about half a ton. When the craft hit the water,the motion was such that the crew wewre unable to throw off the hook, which for a considerable time bounced up and down on the top of the command carrier. As this vehicle contained at one end a box of grenades, there were many sighs of relief when the hook was eventually released without damage. When the beach was reached, the door of the ramp would not open, and it seemed likely that Lt.—Col*.Hastings and his tactical headquarters would have to sit on the beach being mortared, while his battalion fought the battle without him. However, the ramp yielded eventually to military and unprofessional pressure. The experiences of Major C.M. Hull, M.C., who was second in command of the Battalion, were interesting. He, with two signallers and a runner, was aboard the main signal ship. This was a small craft carrying nothuing but highly powered wireless sets. On this craft Major Hull was in direct communication with the higher military and naval commanders, both afloat and in England, with the Royal Air Foree overhead, and with the Battalion on the assuault beaches. The first task of the signal ship was to navigate the infantry assault craft to within six hundered yards of the shore, or, if

Ack

13.5

x

THE ASSAULT LANDINGS IN NORMANDY

D DAY: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5 — MIDNIGHT JUNE 6

What is your full name? John Thomas Manners Mason

What is your present address? 48 Priory Road Kew Richmond Surrey

Telephone number: Richmond 7012

What was your unit, division, corps? No 4. Commando ISS Bde 3. Div on landing 6th Airborne on crossing Orne Bridges

Where did you land and at what time? H + 1/2 hr app. 6th June Ouistreham [for?] the casino then on to to gun battery then to [hanger?].

What yas your rank and age on June 6, 1944? Private 24 yrs old

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? ENA

Did you nave any children at that time? No

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? I think really from early days of planning although place of landing was not known until we were at sea 4-5th June

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? Pleasant on the parent craft the old 'Maid of Orleans' she was afterwards mined. Very choppy on landing craft Immense pride at being part of the invasion fleet the scene off south sea on the 4th June was terrific A lot of cards were played with new invasion money (Francs)

Were there any rumours aboard ship? (Some people remember hearing that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in.) Not really. Remember we were experienced soldiers. Some thought it may be "Another Exercise." But even this rumour was not valid after 4th June. We were very anxious that the operation should [underline] not [end underline] be cancelled.

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No.