Cornwall WW2 veterans awarded Legion d'Honneur
- Published
The veterans received the Legion d'honneur at County Hall in Truro
France's highest military honour has been awarded to 21 World War Two veterans.
The Legion d'Honneur was given to the veterans in Cornwall, who invaded German-occupied France in June 1944.
The honour is in recognition of their roles in France and Europe's liberation from the Nazis.
William Stoneman, 88, who flew with the RAF as a rear gunner in a Halifax bomber, said he was "astounded and thrilled to bits".
During the ceremony in County Hall in Truro on Thursday, Mr Stoneman said he had frequently dropped agents and supplies behind enemy lines during war.
D-Day was the first stage of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe, changing the course of the war.
The French government announced on the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014 that it would award all surviving veterans with the Legion d'Honneur.
Mr Stoneman said it was a "delightful surprise" to receive his award
Andrew Munson, from the French Honorary Consul, gave the awards to the veterans