Award of French Legion d'Honneur to Normandy veterans

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by SDP, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    According to the MOD DDay70 web site, all surviving Normandy veterans can now apply for the Legion d'Honneur (Knight/Chevalier) if you haven't already got one.
     
    walter22 likes this.
  2. PZULBA

    PZULBA Member

  3. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    PZULBA ,

    If I'm reading it correctly the awarding of the Legion d’Honneur will only go to surviving veterans who took part in the liberation of France. Since your Father has passed on he wouldn't qualify. But yes if he was alive you would probably have a very good case for his entitlement.

    Regards ...
     
  4. lindap

    lindap Member

    Hello ,
    Does anyone have an idea how long this process takes? I've completed all the relevant forms for my father who landed on Gold beach on d day and sent them to the mod as requested. That was two months ago.

    The Mod can't or won't confirm they have vetted and passed onto to the French authorities. After being passed around to various points in the French embassy, I'm no further forward. Just told to phone them in 2 weeks time.

    I appreciate these things take time, although it would be helpful to know if "he is in the system" and a rough time frame. He is a member of the soon to be disbanded NVA too. Any suggestions welcome.

    Many thanks
    Linda
     
  5. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Linda

    The French are meticulous so expect this to take some time. It's a very generous gesture so will, I am sure, be well worth the wait. Bottom line is that I know no more than you. I will try to get feedback from some of those who have applied but this will take a few days. Pity my dad died in 1981!
     
  6. lindap

    lindap Member

    Thank you SDP for your helpful response. Most kind. It is a wonderful gesture. Sorry to hear about your father.
     
  7. Peccavi

    Peccavi Senior Member

    As I understand it a British Serviceman is not allowed to wear a medal issued by a foreign government unless the Queen (God bless her) specifically grants the right.

    Has she? Will she?
     
  8. Brian Smith

    Brian Smith Junior Member

    Its a great gesture by the French but spoiled somewhat by the application process. It seems from reading the very wide and vague criteria if you were either in France or supported those who were during the liberation of France you qualify, do not really see the need for justification on the application form.

    Not sure how easy I feel at the exclusion of those no longer with us - if the award is for the part played in the liberation was their contribution any less and not worthy of a posthumous award?

    Brian
     
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  9. walter22

    walter22 New Member

    I actually know an American normandy veteran who has been granted this award.

    Walter Bingham MM
    (Ex RASC at 130 Fd. Ambulance)
     
  10. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Six D-Day veterans from Yorkshire have been presented with France's highest military honour.
    The award is being given by France to all surviving British veterans of the 1944 Normandy landings to honour their part in the liberation of France.
    France's ambassador to Great Britain presented the Legion d'Honneur to five of the men at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-32486807
     
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  11. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Lesley,

    Is there any information on who they served with?

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  13. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    My Good WW2 Veteran Friend, Cyril, recently lost his wife after nearly 61 years of marriage and Vera was looking Forward to seeing Cyril receive his French Legion d'Honneur Medal.

    Rather a shock for all, especially Cyril, as it was totally unexpected, but I know that Vera will be watching from above when the time comes.

    The Funeral service is this Friday and so arranging a quick visit to the UK has been the order of the day.

    I do not know if Cyril has seen the newspaper Report regarding the Awards made recently, so I have printed it out for him and I will let him have it on Thursday.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  14. Mr Jinks

    Mr Jinks Bit of a Cad

    Gordon Collinson ...RTR (landed as infantryman on Gold after Tank broke down)

    Eric Briscoe........RE (landed Gold Beach)

    Thomas William Wright.. Staffordshire Yeomanry

    James Denwood.......RE (Worked on PLUTO a Dunkirk Veteran who survived the Lancastria sinking)

    Eric Gill..........Hallamshires/KOYLI (Served in Burma ,landed in Normandy four days after D-Day )

    Bernard Rush (Deceased)..Royal Navy (Chief Petty Officer the award was made posthumously as an exception to the rule)


    http://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20150429/282260959013650/TextView





    Kyle
     
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  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-31539657

    Welsh World War Two veterans receive Legion d'Honneur

    audio in link [John Wintle, REME]


    [​IMG]
    Merville John Wintle was presented with the Legion d'Honneur in Cardiff

    Two Welsh veterans of World War Two have been awarded France's highest honour - the Legion d'Honneur.

    Ernest Stringer and Merville John Wintle, both from south Wales, were recognised at the event in Cardiff.

    The ceremony commemorated their participation in the D-Day landings in Normandy and their contribution to the liberation of France during the war.

    The service on Friday was one of the events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

    The medals were presented by the Honorary Consul of France in Cardiff, Marie Brousseau-Navarro.

    She said she had "great pleasure" in decorating the two veterans who "particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting to liberate France".

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVvIgn3hI-Y

    Mr Wintle said he would wear his medal "with pride along with the British medals I have had when on parade or at any function".

    Mr Stringer said he was "very proud" to have taken a small part in the freeing of France.

    He added: "This is a great honour and means a great deal for me and my fallen comrades."

    France is honouring all surviving British veterans of the D-Day landings and the wider liberation campaign, with Friday's ceremony the first being held in Wales as part of the commemorations.
     
  16. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34392189

    British WW2 veterans given France's Légion d'honneur

    [​IMG]
    Bernard Morgan was one of those whose bravery was honoured at the service

    Fifteen British veterans of World War Two have been awarded France's highest honour for the role they played in the country's liberation from the Nazis.

    The men were given the Légion d'honneur by French Veterans Minister Jean-Marc Todeschini at a ceremony at the French ambassador's residence in London.

    He said his country would never forget their bravery.

    One of the veterans, Thomas Hassel, told the BBC he felt "tremendous pride" on behalf of all those who fought.

    Many of the men took part in the D-Day landings in June 1944, a crucial turning point in the war.

    The ceremony is the latest in a series that have taken place since the 70th anniversary of D-Day, when French President François Hollande pledged to honour all those British veterans who had served in his country during the war.

    'Freedom and peace'
    Giving out the medals, Mr Todeschini said he was presenting them with "a great deal of respect and gratitude".

    "To these men, France owes its liberation. We will never forget their bravery over 70 years ago, which led to freedom and peace in France and across Europe."

    Mr Hassel said: "I shall treat this honour with tremendous pride.

    "Not only for myself, but for those people who can't apply, those people who didn't come back. I was one of the lucky ones."

    [​IMG]
    The ceremony was the latest in a series held by France to honour British servicemen and women

    [​IMG]
    The Legion d'honneur is France's top accolade for people who distinguish themselves through civilian or military valour

    [​IMG]
    The honour was initiated by Napoleon in 1802

    [​IMG]
    Thomas Hassel said the award was for everyone who served, including those who never returned

    He added: "I've often thought over the years [about] the French people, the mothers with children, that were caught up in this battle that was nothing to do with them, really.

    "They were getting shelled by the British, they were getting shelled by the Germans, losing their homes and families. It's something that's always been at the back of my mind."

    Defence minister and deputy leader of the House of Lords Earl Howe attended the ceremony.

    Students from London's two French secondary schools, the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and the Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill, also read out the veterans' military achievements.

    The Legion d'honneur is France's top accolade for an elite group of people who distinguish themselves through civilian or military valour.

    It was initiated by the then First Consul of the French Republic, Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1802.
     
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  17. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

  18. tmac

    tmac Senior Member

    D-Day veteran Jim Holder-Vale has received his Legion d'Honneur medal from the French government.

    Jim landed on Sword Beach on June 6, 1944, as a driver-op with F Troop, 318 Battery, 92nd LAA. He was later commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers.

    Congratulations to Jim and all the other recipients. image.jpeg
     
  19. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Very well deserved.

    However, has anyone noticed on the BBC webpage that the B&W pic of "Normandy 1944" looks more like "Dunkirk 1940"?

    Gus
     
  20. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Whilst marching in this year's AJEX Remembrance Parade I found myself explaining to one of the younger marchers why our Branch Commander was wearing the Legion D'Honneur whilst I was not.

    It set me thinking if it was ever likely that the Italian government would ever award a similar medal to those Allied troops who helped them to get rid of their 3rd Reich bosses and if I would still be here to receive such an award :)

    Ron, at 92
     

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