THE courageous exploits of the only man to win a Victoria Cross on D-Day are to be highlighted in a major new exhibition.

Stan Hollis, a sergeant major with the Green Howards, showed astonishing bravery on June 6, 1944, when he landed on the beach at Normandy.

A Middlesbrough man, he was with D Company of the 6th Battalion, which was one of the first units ashore at Gold Beach.

Almost single-handedly he captured two pillboxes on the Mont Fleury Battery and took more than 20 prisoners.

Then he went on to put his own life on the line again, rescuing two of his men under enemy fire at the village of Crepon.

The new exhibition at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond depicts D-Day and the regiment's role in the operation.

Appropriately, Sgt Maj Hollis's son, Brian, was given a preview of the exhibition, which opens to the public next month.

Mr Hollis, also from Middlesbrough, will shortly be moving to Australia to live between Brisbane and Cairns to be closer to his own sons.

Museum curator Major Roger Chapman said: "The Green Howards are proud of their actions in the D-Day landings, and especially of Sgt Major Hollis.

"His VC is in the museum - one of 16 VCs displayed there out of the 18 won by members of the regiment over the years.

"His VC will be on show later this year at a special D-Day exhibition at the Imperial War Museum."

The new Richmond exhibition will be opened by D-Day veterans on Monday, February 9.

It will feature photographs of the D-Day landings, as well as personal effects, diaries and official documents relating to the invasion and the part played by the Green Howards.