Normandy veterans honoured by Légion d'honneur

The veterans, accompanied by their families, local councillors and members of the French Embassy, visited Walsall Town Hall for a special service to mark either their own bravery or that of loved ones who have since passed away.

Each had received an invite to a meet-and-greet session from the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Angela Underhill, after being given France's highest military honour.

Thanks

Frederick Booth, Frank Corbett and Samuel Broadhurst received their medals earlier in the autumn and Jack Huskisson received his from the French Embassy in London earlier this month.

The late Ronald Davies and Gordon Poole, were decorated posthumously.

Their letters of thanks and medals from the French Ambassador in London were accepted by their widowves, Dot Davies and Eileen Poole.

At the event, the veterans discussed their contribution to the war effort.

Frederick Booth, aged 89 from Brownhills, served on a supply flotilla with the Royal Navy and arrived in Normandy when he was just 18 years of age. His day-to-day duties included the challenge of cooking up to 1,000 meals a day for all of the many servicemen pouring in to Normandy on smaller landing craft.

Samuel Broadhurst, who is 94 and from Bentley, served as a driver with 294 Field Company, Royal Engineers.

John Huskisson, aged 90 and from Palfrey, served as a Private in the Royal Army Service Corps. He volunteered aged 17 towards the end of 1942 and played an important role in the transportation and distribution of fuel from a Command supply depot in Normandy.

He said: "I had been stationed at an Allied holding camp in Hampshire before we left for Harwich – I was very young and didn't really understand war properly. Most of the men had already seen active service or been stationed in the Middle East, so I stood out like a sore thumb what with my inexperience and against their suntans. But being so young and all – they really looked out for me."

Friend

Frank Corbett, from Bloxwich also aged 94, served as a Corporal and anti-tank gunner in the 7th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, from 1939 to 1946.

He was just 23 when he sailed to Normandy, but despite his youth he already had four years of military service behind him. He said: 'This medal is as much an honour for the ones who didn't come back, as it is for me. I am very proud to receive it.

"I also want to remember and honour my best friend Ronald Davies who died recently. He served in the Navy and was told he'd been awarded the Légion d'honneur when he was in hospital – just three days before he died. "

"He was a great man and friend and I know he was very proud to be included in the roll call – both he and Gordon Poole very much deserved it.'

Mayor Angela Underhill saidof the day: "We are incredibly proud of this honour that France has bestowed on these very special men."

"The award is recognition of their sacrifices and the bravery shown in the face of extreme danger to protect us and other nations during the war.'

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