FRANCE'S highest military honour has finally been formally presented to Normandy veterans from across the York area.

The Légion d’Honneur medals were handed to 21 veterans at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington on Sunday by the French Consul to Yorkshire, Jeremy Burton and Colonel Bruno Cunat, the French Liaison Officer to the Ministry of Defence.

The former servicemen came to York from as far away as Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Manchester.

Those present from the York area were:

  • Ken Smith, of Wheldrake, who served in Normandy from D-Day and was wounded in action in October 1944.
  • Ken Cooke, from the Hull Road area, who served in Normandy after landing on Gold Beach on June 6 until he was wounded on July 14
  • Bert Barritt, of Acomb, who landed on Sword Beach on D-Day and was wounded in an assault on Chateau de La Londe on June 27.
  • Norman Berryman, of Heworth, a Warrant Officer who served on Lancaster bombers in ops against various enemy positions during the Normandy invasion.
  • Reginald Deighton, of Acomb, an Able Seaman who served as a crewman and gunner on a landing craft which landed on Juno Beach on June 6.
  • George Graham, from Wetherby, a Midshipman who transported US Personnel to the invasion beaches.
  • John Graham from Holly Banks, York, a gunner who landed on Gold Beach on June 9, serving under Major Edward Heath, who later become Prime Minister.
  • Dennis Haydock, of Strensall, a guardsman and gunner who landed in Normandy on June 30 and was later wounded in action.
  • Robert Mathieson, of Riccall, a Flying Officer who flew on June 6 to Guernsey to see if British troops had landed, was hit by flak but managed to limp back to England.
  • George Meredith, of Acomb, a dispatch rider who served in Normandy from June 7. 

Museum director Ian Reed said it was a very emotional time for all the veterans, as they remembered many lost colleagues and friends, but also a day of pride, particularly for the many family members supporting them.

He said: "This is a historic and increasingly rare event with these very special people who represent a fast decreasing number of veterans from a period of our past history which still affects us to this day."

The medals were promised almost two years ago by French President Francois Hollande during the 70th anniversary of D-Day but the veterans experienced frustrating delays - prompting Yorks MPs Julian Sturdy and Rachael Maskell to pledge to intervene on their behalf - before they finally received them in the post in the spring.

The first photo above shows:

  • Front from left: Albert Edward Barritt, Norman Berryman, Kenneth Charlton, Kenneth Cooke, Douglas Dawson, Reginald Deighton, George Grahm, Dennis James Haydock and James Joseph Healy.
  • Back from left: Horace Hodgson, George Hubert Hollings, Kenneth Alfred Johnson, James Matthew Johnston, Robert Mathieson, Ernest Naylor, Harry Ramsey, Bernard John Richardson, Willie Riley and Kenneth William Smith.
  • All pictures: David Harrison / Yorkshire Air Museum