D-Day Landings: Gold Beach

Gold Beach was one of the 5 designated Allied landing beaches for the D-Day Landings of 6th June 1944. The objectives for the British forces landing on Gold Beach were to establish a beachhead between Arromanches and Ver-sur-Mer. The attack on Gold Beach began at 7:25am, 50 minutes later than in the American sector to allow for the difference in west-east tidal surge. By the end of D-Day, 25,000 men had landed on Gold Beach, suffering around 400 casualties in the process.

CSM Stan Hollis VC

The only soldier awarded the Victoria Cross on D-Day landed at Gold Beach. CSM Stan Hollis was involved in two actions that saw the award of the Victoria Cross. In the first assault, Hollis single-handedly stormed a German pillbox, an act which undoubtedly saved many lives. Later in the day, he save two of his comrades who were trapped by heavy gunfire in a ruined house. In fact, Hollis was recommended for the VC for each of his two actions on D-Day.

Hollis was a remarkable man and experience a huge amount of close combat action in Dunkirk, the Western Desert, Italy, France and Germany. Whilst in the Western Desert, he was injured and taken prisoner but escaped (after meeting Field Marshall Rommel).

The book “D-Day Hero: CSM Stan Hollis VC” can be found on our Explorer Travel Shop

Tours for 2010

Our battlefield tours to Normandy are among our most popular. All tours include a full day at the British sector of Normandy. For more information, prices and availability, call 0208 816 8789 or send an enquiry via the “Contact Us” page.