D Day Veteran to receive top accolade from France
Posted on Tuesday 24th May 2016
D-Day veteran, John Davies of Rogerstone, has been recognised with the highest honour in France by French President Francois Hollande.
The Legion d’Honneur will be presented to Mr Davies by the French Consul Marie Brousseau-Navarro at a special ceremony to be held in the Civic Centre, Newport, on Friday 27 May – two days before Mr Davies’ 91st birthday.
The Mayor of Newport, Councillor David Atwell, will host the formal presentation at 11am.
Councillor Atwell said: “I am delighted to host this presentation for Mr Davies and his family. This is an historic occasion and our city is honoured to be taking part. Congratulations to Mr Davies on such a fantastic achievement.”
Leader of Newport City Council Councillor Debbie Wilcox said: “We, and subsequent generations, have nothing but enormous gratitude towards these extraordinary people who fought for the freedom that we enjoy today.”
Mr Davies was a young paratrooper of the Sixth Airborne Division who was flown into Northern France hours ahead of the sea landings, aged just 19.
He landed in France by parachute just after midnight on 6 June before the sea landings and successfully defended crossroads to prevent German reinforcements getting to the beaches where the invasion had begun.
He stayed in France as Brigadier Hill’s despatch rider during the Allied Invasion, continuing with him for the duration of the war behind enemy lines to reach Wismar on the Baltic Coast.
Mr Davies continued with his love of motorbikes after the war, and was a successful speedway rider until an accident ended his career.
Among those attending the presentation with Mr Davies will be his wife Eileen, daughter and son-in-law Catrin and Michael Fletcher, grandchildren Rachel, Rhys and Tom, with his fiancée Sarah, and his great grandchildren Edie and Rudy.