IN PICTURES: Legion D'honneur for Black Country Normandy World War Two heroes

Normandy veterans Arthur Utley, Bernard Benson, George Stokes and Simeon Mayou have been awarded the Legion D'honneur.

They and were treated to a private reception with the mayor, their families and members of the French Embassy at Walsall Town Hall on Tuesday to mark their bravery.

Each had received an invite to a meet-and-greet session from the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Angela Underhill.

Mr Utley, aged 92, from Willenhall, was called up in 1942. He joined the Royal Army Ordinance Corps and began his training with the King's Royal Rifles in York. Arthur, alongside many others, was transferred to a landing craft in the early hours of June 6, 1944, and crossed the channel without any knowledge of where he was heading.

His vessel formed part of the 7,000 strong flotilla of ships and boats that landed on Gold Beach in preparation for the historic allied campaign known as the D-Day landings

He said of the ceremony: "It really came out of the blue, I really enjoyed the ceremony and it's been good to see some of the other veterans."

He added: "My main memories from the war are from when we were transferred to the landing craft. It was a strange feeling, knowing you needed to be ready but not knowing where you were going."

Mr Stokes, aged 95, from Bloxwich, was a 26-year-old sergeant with 5th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, but was transferred to the Gordon Highlanders shortly after arriving in Normandy. His tank battalion protected allies as they advanced into Belgium and Holland.

He said: "It's a special moment.

"It was never a case of getting medals when we were out there. Everybody just had to go when they were called up. There were a lot of casualties, some were badly wounded, some died.

"I was there when a big air raid on Caen happened, I saw a lot of destruction. One or two of my close colleagues died.

"In fact, I don't know where it was, but my tank got blown up. I was lucky because I landed comfortably. But others were badly wounded. I had about seven days off to deal with the shock and then was back to it. I was flown to a hospital base, it was the first time I'd been in a plane.

"You just went and did your best, do your duty and hope you make it back alive."

Mr Mayou is a D-Day landings veteran and former Liberal Democrat councillor for Pelsall, Walsall. From 1942, he served as a radar operatorin the Royal Navy Patrol Service, protecting the North Atlantic convoys from mines and air bombardment.

He also saw active service during World War Two and was also on board the first wave of ships providing support during the D-Day landings in 1944.

He said: "It's been an exciting day. It's been nice to have some of my family with me, and to meet some of the other veterans.

"I remember when we were told down at Portsmouth. The officer arrived, walked down some steps towards us, removed his hat and put it under his arm and he said: 'The lid's off, we're going to invade France'. And that was that." On June 24, 1944, Mr Mayou's vessel passed another ship, the Lord Austin, which was mined at Seine Bay off Normandy moments later. Of the 150 on board, only seven survived.

He remembers: "We'd passed them barely 10 ten minutes before it happened, we just heard this huge bang. We managed to rescue a couple of them, you wouldn't believe the wounds they had. They didn't moan and groan at all though. It was one hell of an adventure, and I'd do it all again if I had to."

RAF veteran Bernard Benson, aged 94 and from Walsall, served with the 340 Squadron and 'Group de Chasse Ile de France' – the Free French Army. He was 22 when he left for Normandy in September 1944, which was some time after the D-Day landings. But he played a vital role in supporting the troops advancing on the enemy through Belgium and Holland.

Robert Mille, honorary consul for France in Birmingham, said: "I am here on behalf of the French people to express our undying and heartfelt thanks in respect of the enormous debt of gratitude we owe you."