A Hemsby D-Day veteran was presented with his Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur from the French government by Great Yarmouth’s Mayor last week.

John Dickens and family went to the Mayor’s Parlour in the town hall to receive the French government’s highest honour from Mayor, Cllr Shirley Weymouth. Also at the special ceremony were Lt Col Terry Byrne and Mel Hawes, president and chairman respectively of the Norfolk and Norwich bBranch of the RASC and RCT Association of which John is also a member.

John’s three-year service with the RASC included D-Day landings and then the fierce battles, off the beaches, through the Netherlands and into Germany. Like most veterans of that time, some of what they experienced is not talked about.

The award of this high honour is in recognition of acknowledged Military engagement and steadfast involvement in the Liberation of France during the Second World War.