A Great War veteran who missed out on getting a top French medal in time for Armistice Day may yet receive the honour.

Ernest Hick, who fought on the Somme and at Passchendaele

The Royal British Legion is now looking into the case of Ernest Hick, 99, who joined up when just 16 and served on the Somme and at Passchendaele, after the Evening Press investigated.

Other surviving veterans of the Western Front have received the Legion d'Honneur from the French Government in recognition of their service in France during the 1914-18 conflict, on the 80th anniversary of the Armistice.

But Mr Hick, who now lives in St Olave's Nursing Home in St Olave's Road, York, was not on the legion's list because his family were unaware of the search for the survivors.

His case was raised by a nursing sister at the home, Mary Allen, who contacted his son, Ken Hick, and the Evening Press to say he had missed out on the honour.

She said: "I just like special people to be recognised."

The Evening Press gave details of the French Government's initiative to his family, and the Royal British Legion's county field officer for North and East Yorkshire, Colin Northridge, now has details of Mr Hick's military service.

Mr Northridge said today: "I have to see the evidence and make my recommendations, but I am sure he will get the medal."

Mr Northridge said he had been responsible for tracking down ex-soldiers and had missed Mr Hicks.

"It's been a very arduous task trying to find people. I'm sure there's other people who have been missed, but hopefully this will come to light and we can rectify the problem."

Mr Hick's son said his father was born in Bootham Row, where his family ran the Queen's Head pub. He enlisted in October, 1915, when aged 16and was sent to France with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

He became a marksman and was picked for the Machine Gun Corps, where he stayed for the rest of the war. "When he first went into the line the guns went off for about two weeks. He was terrified," said his son.

Mr Hick served on the Somme and at Passchendaele. He lost two brothers in the war; Harold, who died when HMS Hampshire was sunk in 1916 with Lord Kitchener on board, and Ted, who died at Ypres.

Ken Hick said only in recent years had his father discussed the war. "He felt it was a tragic waste of life. It used to bring tears to his eyes when he used to remember his mates," he said. Mr Hick Senior lived in Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, until earlier this year.

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