A touching letter providing a rare glimpse into the private thoughts of a Victoria Cross winner has brought the North East families of two Second World War heroes together for the first time.
Amanda Hart, the granddaughter of Stan Hollis, met John Armstrong's niece, Susan Law, at The Green Howards Museum in Richmond, North Yorkshire, this week (Monday, July 29).
The letter, unearthed in a family archive, was written by Sergeant Major Hollis, from Middlesbrough to the parents of Private Armstrong, his friend and comrade from the 6th Battalion, Green Howards.
Pte Armstrong was killed after standing on a mine just a few days after D-Day. The letter from Sgt Maj Hollis is to his parents, William and Emily in Langley-on-Tyne, near Hexham, expressing his deepest condolences.
The letter is part of an extraordinary archive of material kept in a leather pouch by the Armstrong family ever since.
Although she knew of her uncle's background, Susan was unaware of the existence of the archive material until it passed from her Aunty Joyce into the possession of her cousin, Michael in 2010.
The pouch contains medals - including the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) awarded to Armstrong for bravery in the Battle of El Alamein - photographs, letters and other documents collected and kept safe by his parents.
Susan, from Riding Mill, near Hexham, has painstakingly digitised the material, something she describes as "a labour of love", adding: "It was worth it. I thought it was an extraordinary thing, I don't know how many families would have kept so much."
Among the archive items was the letter from Hollis. In it, he wrote of his deep shock as he had seen Armstrong - "unconscious, but very much alive" - on a stretcher after standing on a mine, but had been led to believe he was likely to recover.
He added: "I want you to know that Johnnie, (and this is quite true as anyone will confirm) was always looked upon in the Bn (battalion), as the bravest man it ever contained, Johnnie’s word was law in ‘D’ Coy."
Later in the letter, he says: "Although I know that nothing can compensate you for your great loss, and I wish to offer my honest, heartfelt sympathy, he was more than a soldier to the Bn, and I count it one of the finest things I know, that I could claim Johnnie Armstrong as one of my best friends."
After offering the archive to the Green Howards Museum, for use in their recent D-Day exhibition, Susan, 68, inquired if there were any surviving descendants of Hollis and was directed towards his granddaughter, Amanda Hart.
Amanda, 57, from Liverton Mines, Loftus, had no idea about the existence of the letter - and was surprised by its contents.
"It's a lovely letter and beautifully written," she said.
"I've never seen any of his personal letters. I only know him as my grandad and not as a soldier whatsoever.
"I was really surprised because we don't have any personal items from my grandad. He kept himself to himself, I never saw him display any emotion.
"It's so nice to see something so well written. It was a heartfelt letter."
The only previous correspondence Amanda had seen from her grandad, who became a publican once the war ended, were formal letters to the brewery.
"To see that letter and the thought he's put into it told me a totally different side to my grandad," she said.
"I knew he was a good man and he cared about people, but to see it written down, and to see he's taken that amount of time, I didn't expect it."
Susan and her family are gifting the archive to the Green Howards Museum, so it can be seen by the public.
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She said it was "lovely" to meet Amanda, adding: "To me, it's joining the circle together.
"Two men stormed up that beach 80 years ago with their guns and they didn't know what lay ahead for them.
"Now, 80 years down the line, we're able to meet. I think it's lovely."
Read the letter in full:
Dear Mr Armstrong;
I was most pleased receiving your letter, and am very sad to hear of Johnnie’s death, the last time saw him was when he was on a stretcher being taken back to the Medical Officer, he had stood on a mine, and was unconscious, but very much alive, I saw the M.O. later in the day and asked how he was as I thought he wouldn’t live, however the M.O. told me he was not so badly injured as we all thought, and that he had every chance to get over it, and until I got your letter I thought he was O,K. as did all the Bn, when I left. They will all be deeply shocked, particularly Alec Hedley. I want you to know that Johnnie, (and this is quite true as any one will confirm) was always looked upon in the Bn, as the bravest man it ever contained, Johnnie’s word was law in ‘D’ Coy and he did a Pln, Sgts job from D Day onwards, although he would never take the stripes.
Yes I’m glad you wrote to me, as I can tell you who should have Johnnie’s personal Kit one of his pals he, is Coy Storeman, Pte D. Rae. “D” Coy. 6th G. Howards any wounded mens kit, were all sent to him, and he may have retained it. Now about any credits etc I’m sorry I can’t tell you what is due from his D.C.M. but if you write to
THE REGIMENTAL PAYMASTER
GREEN HOWARDS
YORK.
He will tell you how much Johnnie had and will forward it on to you. And now Mr Armstrong I think that is all, and hope it will be of some use, although I know that nothing can compensate you for your great loss, and I wish to offer my honest, heartfelt sympathy, he was more than a soldier to the Bn, and I count it one of the finest things I know, that I could claim Johnnie Armstrong as one of my best friends, so for now cheerio, and please don’t hesitate to write to me if you think there is anything at all I can help you with
Yours Sincerely
S Hollis C.S.M.
P.S. Bob Nixon has now got a good job at 2nd Army H.Q. and is out of the fighting.
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