SIX veterans from the former Wiltshire Branch of the Normandy Veterans Association have been awarded the Legion d’Honneur for their bravery and commitment during the liberation of France.

Bob Conway from Trowbridge, Wally Beall of Atworth, Chris Hellings of Melksham and John Butchard of Mere were bestowed with the honour last Friday at a ceremony at the Guildhall in Bath.

In 2014, the French President awarded the Chevalier de Legion d’Honneur to all surviving veterans of the Normandy campaign and subsequent actions that led to the liberation of France in 1944/45.

Madame Josette Lebrat, the Honorary French Consul, conducted the ceremony last Friday to the veterans who are all in their 90s.

Bob Conway, former chairman of the Wiltshire branch, went to the ceremony with his wife Gwen and their children.

“I found out about the medal when the 70th anniversary came about. To be honest, I was quite surprised and I couldn’t believe it actually came through.

“I’ve got about five or six medals now and it's very nice to have this one after all these years. I’m very proud to wear them but I also feel for the people who haven’t got them.

“I’m proud of the others and they should be proud of themselves and being given it now is almost a reminder of how young we were back then. I was 18 when I landed in Normandy and my 19th birthday was the end of 44.”

Mr Conway served in the Royal Army Service Corps as a motorcycle despatch rider carrying fuel and ammunition to front line troops.

The foursome were also honoured alongside James Wade, who lives in Shrivenham and Ken Godfrey who now lives in Derbyshire, after spending much of his life in Wiltshire.

Mr Beall also received the Legion d’Honneur who at 19, served as a leading wireman in the Royal Navy and he was a gunner on a tank landing craft that was delivering crews to the Utah Beach on D-Day.

“I first heard about the French Government giving the award out about two or three years ago, but they have been quite late as I think they promised everyone would get their medal by the end of 2015.

“The Wiltshire branch has folded. We still meet as friends but we don’t have any formal meetings as such.

“To start with, people were concerned that it was too high of an honour, but the French said that we absolutely deserved it and they were glad we landed and moved the French people away. I go over to commemorate every year and the French people always come and talk to us to say thank you and so do the German people as well.”

Madame Lebrat added: “To these men, France owes its liberation.

"We will never forget their bravery over 70 years ago, which led to freedom and peace in France and across Europe.”