BRITISH SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 277, 19 August 1944, Page 7

BRITISH SOLDIERS

Two More V.C.’s Awarded (British Official Wireless.) (Received August 18, 7 pun.) RUGBY, August 17. Two more V.CL’s are named in tonight’s “London Gazette.” One has been awarded posthumously to Corporal (Acting-Sergeant) Hanson Victory Turner, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, for outstanding valour in Burma, the other to Company Sergeant-Major Stanley -Elton. Hollis, of tile Green Howards, for the utmost gallantry in Normandy ou D-day. Sergeant Turner, in the effort to prevent an outflanking movement by the Japanese near Ningthoukong, went forward single-handed, with as many grenades as he could carry, and used them with devastating effect under intense small-arms and grenade fire. When the supply was exhausted, he. went back for more, and returned to the offensive again. Six times in all he attacked the enemy positions single-handed—on the sixth he was killed.

Company Sergeant-Major Hollis, during the assault ou the Normandy beachhead, rushed at a pillbox which was firing on his company, climbed on the top, and threw a grenade in through the door, thereby killing two Germans and making the remainder prisoner. House-to-Houso Fighting. Later the same day, in the village of Crepon, Hollis was put in charge of a party to cover an attack on a gun, but the movement was held up. He pushed right forward to engage the gun. from a house at 50 yards range. His cheek was grazed by a sniper's bullet, aud the gun was swung round and fired point-blank into the house. However, he withdrew his party to another position. The gun was destroyed shortly afterward. He later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house. In full view of the enemy, who were continually firing at him, he went forward alone, using a Breu-guu, aud under cover of his diversion the two men were able to get back.