NORMANDY veterans have attended a Royal Salute in York's Museum Gardens, sporting their new Legion D'Honneur medals.

Ken Smith and Ken Cooke were invited by Brigadier James Carr-Smith, the Deputy Commander of 1st (United Kingdom) Division, to yesterday's 21-gun salute, which was held to mark the 64th year since the Queen’s Coronation. The honour came only weeks after they were presented with France's highest military honour for their service on D-Day and the following months.

The new Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Dave Taylor, inspected the troops in one of his first official duties since becoming York's first Green councillor to hold the office.

Other guests included the Lady Mayoress of York, Susan Ridley, five Masters of the Guilds, civic dignitaries and emergency responders.

Following music from The Band of The Royal Armoured Corps, the salute was fired on the stroke of noon by P Battery (The Dragon Troop), 5th Regiment Royal Artillery based at Marne Barracks, Catterick, using three 105 mm Light field guns, which have been used in service in the Falklands and latterly in Afghanistan.

There will be another Royal Salute to mark the Duke of Edinburgh’s 95th birthday next Friday 10 June and a third one to mark the Queen’s official birthday the following day.