France has awarded its highest order for military merit to a D-Day veteran now living in Fleet.
Bernard Hale (91) served with the Royal Naval patrol service and was on a mine-sweeping trawler sent to clear the Normandy beaches before the landings in June 1944.
For three days, Bernard – who earned five shillings a week as a boy telegraphist – spent eight-hour shifts in a windowless room with three radios and a bed.
He said: “When you’re sitting in a wireless cabin you don’t see much at all – I didn’t even know which beach we were at.”
The presentation of the Legion of Honour medal was made by Jean-Claude Lafontaine, honorary French consul for the East Midlands, at The Market House in Long Sutton on Monday.(May 9)
Spalding RNA chairman Keith Crawford MBE said: “We’re highly delighted that Bernard has got it.”
