I thought I recognised you?

[Tiny]

Or click this link.... www.wwiireenacting.co.uk/forum/files/untitled-truecolor-04_204.jpg

I know it's not the best copy of the picture but I had to scan it in from a book of mine.

You'll probably think I'm going mad, but after looking at this photo of the Green Howards moving inland from Gold beach on D-Day or just after, I realised I'd seen some of the faces before.

The soldier lying on the bank scratching his neck looks alot like Dan.

The lad waving to the camera could be Olly and the next Tommy could be Stu?

Moving down the line it looks like Bob and Whizz.

[Whizz_Bang]

Right hand side ... 6 back its Monty !

Left hand side 12 back tis Vaughan (sitting slightly higher than the rest).

[Tiny]

Good spot mate!!

The Tom closest to the camera on the right looks like me.
It felt strange looking at the picture recognising faces that I know today from 60 years ago.

I wonder how many of those lads made it through?

[Whizz_Bang]

If this is 6Bn Howards One of these fine Gentlemen could well be a VC winner.... the only VC won on D-Day.

[Tiny]

Warrant Officer Second Class Stanley Elton Hollis (September 21, 1912 - February 8, 1972) was an English 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.

He has the unique distinction of winning the only Victoria Cross awarded on D-Day (June 6, 1944 ).

Stanley Hollis was born in Loftus, Cleveland, England where he lived and attended the local school until 1926 when his parents moved to Robin Hood's Bay where Stan worked in his father's fish and chip shop. In 1929, he became an apprentice to a Whitby shipping Company to learn to be a Navigation Officer. He made regular voyages to West Africa but in 1930, he fell ill with blackwater fever which ended his merchant navy career.

Returning to North Ormesby, Middlesbrough he got a job as a lorry driver and married Alice Clixby with whom he had a son and a daughter. In 1939 he enlisted as a territorial in 4th Battalion, The Green Howards. At the outbreak of World War II he was mobilised and joined the 6th Battalion, The Green Howards and went to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 where he was employed as the Commanding Officer's dispatch rider. He was promoted from Lance Corporal to Sergeant during the evacuation from Dunkirk. He then fought from El Alamein to Tunis as part of the British 8th Army in the North African Campaign. Stanley was promoted to Company Sergeant Major just before the invasion of Sicily in 1943 where he was wounded at the battle of Primasole Bridge.

On June 6, 1944 in Normandy, France, Stanley Hollis went with his company commander to investigate two German pill-boxes which had been by-passed as the company moved inland from the beaches. He rushed forward to the first pill-box, taking all but five of the occupants prisoner and then dealt with the second, taking 26 prisoners. Then he cleared a neighbouring trench. Later that day, he led an attack on an enemy position which contained a field gun and Spandau machine guns. After withdawing he learned that two of his men had been left behind and told Major Lofthouse, his commanding officer, " I took them in. I will try to get them out." Taking a grenade from one of his men Hollis carefully observed the enemy's pattern of behaviour and threw it at the most opportune moment. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to prime the grenade but the enemy didn't know this and kept their heads down waiting for it to explode. By the time they realised their mistake Hollis was on top of them and had shot them.

In September 1944 he was wounded in the leg and evacuated to England where he was decorated by King George VI on October 10, 1944.