Just heard this sad news on Paul Reed's Twitter feed of Gordon Collinson's passing at the age of 92 https://twitter.com/sommecourt I thought I would post the lovely picture of Gordon that Paul posted on his York Branch NVA Normandy tour in 2009 (edited:added link to thread): http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/15612-york-branch-nva-normandy-tour-2009/?hl=%2Bgordon+%2Bcollinson#entry176377
A smashing chap. I'm pleased to say he got his Legion d'honneur a few months ago. This was appropriate in more ways than one as since we went to Germany with the York vets a few years ago he was known as the 'Field Marshall' as a local in Wesel stopped me and asked about the medals Gordon was wearing. I explained them all and he said 'with all those medals he must have been a Field Masrhall'. When I told the group this back on the coach, Gordon piped up: "I hope I get the back pay!" RIP Gordon.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3059438/Seven-decades-five-courageous-Yorkshiremen-given-France-s-highest-honour-vital-role-D-Day.html Legion d'Honneur GORDON COLLINSON should have been in the relative safety of a tank when he landed on Gold Beach. Unfortunately, his tank broke down and couldn’t get off the landing craft. The 20-year-old tank driver was forced to wade ashore carrying his rifle around his head as bullets flew all around him. A man of small stature, the water was up to his nose at one point, but he was grabbed by his comrades and managed to survive the terrifying experience. He eventually found a tank to board so he could continue with his duties. Mr Collinson ended up battling his way across France and going into the heart of Germany during the final months of the war. He was among the Allied troops to reach Berlin in May 1945 after the Russians arrived first and witnessed the scenes of terrible devastation. After the war he married and had three children and spent the rest of his working life as a civil servant. He is now aged 91 and living in York.
