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| Middlesborough VC Memorial |
The Middlesborough VC Memorial is located adjacent to the towns War Memorial.The centre piece is a statue of Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis who won the only VC on D-Day. He was serving with the 6th Battalion, The Green Howards, when they landed on Gold Beach, King Sector, shortly after 07:30 on 6th June 1944. He was awarded the VC for two actions. Firstly for clearing a pill box and trenches north of Ver-Sur-Mer, and secondly for rescuing comrades under fire in the village of Crepon.
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Middlesborough VC Memorial
CSM Stan Hollis VC statuette |
His VC citation records his gallantry;
In Normandy on 6 June 1944 Company Sergeant-Major 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. "Hollis instantly rushed straight at the pillbox, firing his Sten gun into the first pill-box, He jumped on top of the pillbox, re-charged his magazine, threw a grenade in through the door and fired his Sten gun into it, killing two Germans and taking the remainder prisoners.
Later the same day... C.S.M. Hollis pushed right forward to engage the [field] gun with a PIAT [anti-tank weapon] from a house at 50 yards range... 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...distract their attention from the other men. Under cover of his diversion, the two men were able to get back.
Wherever the fighting was heaviest...[he]...appeared, displaying the utmost gallantry... It was largely through his heroism and resource that the Company's objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier. ....he saved the lives of many of his men.
"No. 36658". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 August 1944. pp. 3807–3808.
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| Stan Hollis VC Middlesborough VC Memorial |
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In the grounds of the Dorman Museum adjacent to the Middlesborough VC Memorial is a statue dedicated to Private Tom Dresser VC. Tom Dresser was serving with 7th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) when they were engaged in fighting near Roeux, during the Battle of Arras on the 12th May 1917 when he won his Victoria Cross.
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| Tom Dresser VC Statue Middlesborough |
His VC citation records his gallantry;
On 12 May 1917 near Roeux, France, Private Dresser, in spite of having been twice wounded on the way and suffering great pain, succeeded in conveying an important message from battalion headquarters to the front line trenches, which he eventually reached in an exhausted condition. His fearlessness and determination to deliver this message at all costs proved of the greatest value to his battalion at a critical period.
"No. 30154". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1917. p. 6382.
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| Private Tom Dresser VC |
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Private Tom Dresser VC presentation
from King George V |
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In the paving surrounding the Middlesborough VC Memorial are plaques recording the recipients of the Victoria Cross from the town. One of those plaques is dedicated to Sergeant William McNally who is the most decorated of those commemorated. McNally was awarded the Military Medal and Bar, as well as the Victoria Cross during his service in World War One.
William McNally enlisted into the 8th (Service) Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own) on 3rd September 1914. The Battalion were part of 69 Brigade in the 23rd Division, deploying to France in August 1915.
During the Battle of the Somme at Contalmaison on 10th July 1916 he was awarded the the Military Medal for assisting an officer who was wounded in the thigh and dragged him back to safety. On 3rd November 1917, he won a bar to his Military Medal for bravery near Passchendaele. On three separate occasions, he rescued men who had been wounded or buried by enemy shellfire in the trenches.
In November 1917 the 23rd Division moved to northern Italy where it then remained until the end of the war. In October 1918 the Division, including the 8th Yorkshires, were fighting north east of the River Piave. During the period 27th and 29th October 1918 he performed three separate acts of gallantry which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross.
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Middlesborough VC Memorial Plaque
Sgt William McNally VC MM and Bar |
His VC citation records his gallantry;
On 27 October 1918 at Piave River, Italy, when his company was most seriously hindered by machine-gun fire, Sergeant McNally, regardless of personal safety, rushed the machine-gun post single-handed, killing the team and capturing the gun. Later, at Vazzola on 29 October the sergeant crept up to the rear of an enemy post, put the garrison to flight and captured the machine-gun. On the same day, when holding a newly captured ditch, he was strongly counter-attacked from both flanks, but coolly controlling the fire of his party, he frustrated that attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.
"No. 31067". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 December 1918. p. 14776.
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| Sergeant William McNally VC MM and Bar |
