THE family of a former resident at Trowbridge Oaks Rest Home were presented with the French Legion d’Honneur on his behalf last week after staff at the home helped discover that he fought during the liberation of France.

Mervin Godwin, who lived in Broad Hinton, stayed at the West Ashton Road home while the Great Western Hospital in Swindon put together a care package for him. He died on December 15, aged 93.

While there, Mr Godwin opened up to staff about his experiences at war in the Royal Artillery including at Pegasus Bridge during the D-Day landings.

Mr Godwin’s daughter Sandra Clifford went to the ceremony with her brother Adrian.

“He knew about the medal before he died and it all started at the home where he was for 10 weeks for respite while the hospital put a care plan together,” Mrs Clifford said.

“Ray, the activity organiser from Trowbridge Oaks, was the one who got really friendly with him and he got on with him really well. Dad really opened up to him about the war which he didn’t do with us and they got on so well. When it came to dad moving back home, he didn’t want to leave.

“It didn’t worry us that he was in Trowbridge because we knew he was being looked after and he was enjoying himself.”

Mr Godwin was one of 181 men who took off from Dorset in six gliders on June 5, 1944 before landing within 75 yards of Pegasus Bridge about half way between Caen and Ouistreham.

Within 10 minutes of landing and surprising the Germans who were defending the bridge, the bridge was taken by the British attackers. All this took place just minutes before the Allied invasion of Normandy when landings were taking place on Sword Beach a few miles north of the bridge.

Mayor Roger Andrews, along with his wife Aurore, presented Mrs Clifford and Mr Godwin with the medal last Wednesday.

Cllr Andrews said: “The French Government has been recognising the part these men played in the liberation of France by awarding them the Legion d’Honneur which is the highest declaration in France.

“The mayoress of Trowbridge is French so it was decided that she would present the medal on behalf of the French Government.”

The Legion d’Honneur will be added to Mr Godwin’s other medals including the Battle of Britain star, African Desert Rat star, France and Germany star, King’s Commendation for Bravery and the medal for war of 1939-1945.

Trowbridge Oaks manager Tracy Williams said the day was very moving. She added: “I think the family appreciated the effort we went to in securing the medal for him and we just felt that even though it was a small service, we were able to hour all the soldiers.”