Major Hugh Victor Duke of the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, is remembered in Holne as the sole Second World War casualty named on the village war memorial. Known affectionately as “Bubbles” Duke, he was a charismatic and inspiring officer whose leadership and courage were deeply felt by those who served alongside him. His death on D-Day, 6 June 1944, during the Allied landings in Normandy, was a bitter blow to his battalion and a lasting loss to the community he came from.
On the morning of the landings, the 2nd Devons anchored seven and a half miles off the coast of Gold Beach. As the sea churned and the sky darkened over the beaches, the battalion embarked in landing craft and began their approach. The spire of Asnelles church served as a landmark, but the beach obstacles had not been cleared, and the tide drove the craft eastward. Amid mortar and rifle fire, the ramps were lowered and the men waded ashore in deep, cold water, landing near Les Rocquettes. The beach was chaotic, strewn with troops and wreckage, and only C Company landed in the correct position.
Major Duke, commanding C Company, knew his objective was Asnelles but quickly realised the enemy still held Le Hamel. Determined to press forward, he began a reconnaissance for an attack on the eastern edge of the village. It was during this mission that he was killed by a sniper. His death was recorded in the battalion’s war diary and later honoured in a moving tribute by Arthur Bryant in the Illustrated London News. His loss was felt keenly by the men of the 2nd Devons, who described him as a personality who inspired them all and whose absence they could ill afford.
The battle continued through the day, with the battalion suffering heavy casualties from mortar fire and snipers. Three company commanders were lost within three quarters of an hour. Despite the confusion and danger, the Devons pressed on, capturing Ryes and attempting to seize the high ground at Masse de Credaille. By evening, the battalion had been fully committed, and reinforcements began to arrive. The first day of the Normandy campaign had ended, and though the battalion had achieved its initial objectives, the cost was high.
Major Duke’s name is carved into the granite war memorial outside St Mary’s Church in Holne, standing alongside those of the First World War fallen. His story, preserved in regimental records and remembered in the village, is one of bravery, leadership, and sacrifice. In the chaos of D-Day, he led from the front, and in doing so gave his life for the liberation of Europe. His memory lives on in Holne, not only as a soldier, but as a man who inspired those around him and whose courage continues to be honoured.
