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| Ernest Ellerton & James Manning with their Legion D'honneur medals |
Two
Dronfield veterans have received the prestigous
Legion D’honneur medal from French Consul Jean-Claude Lafontaine.
Ernest Ellerton, 90, and James Manning, 93, of the Holmesdale Estate, were awarded the medals in a ceremony held at the Dronfield Hall Barn.
Ernest, known as Ted to his friends, was a member of the Royal Army Service Corps. He was among troops who landed in Normandy a couple of days after D-Day.
He was also involved in the liberation of the Belgian capital and helped care for the people left in German death camps after they were freed by British troops.
“It was a real surprise hearing I was going to be given the medal. I am beyond chuffed. I dedicate it the troops who died,” said Ernest, who is now blind and being supported by Blind Veterans UK.
Fellow veteran James volunteered to serve with the Maritime Regiment during the D-day landings.
He helped lead the way to the Normandy Coast as part of a naval bombardment fleet.
They cleared the route which allowed troops to land on the beaches during the morning of the 6th June 1944.
“You never really thought about the danger of it all,” said James, “You just got on with it and hoped for the best.”
James had served in the armed
forces since 1938. He first enlisted for the Hallamshire Battalion at the age
of 16 after lying about his age.
He also saw action as part of the British Expeditionary Force in Dunkirk in 1940. During this battle he was wrongly reported as being dead.
James said: “I jokingly told my wife that the only reason I was getting the Legion D’honneur medal was part of France’s apology for trying to kill me off.
“In all honesty though it’s an honour to receive the medal after all these years. I can’t help but think about the soldiers who didn’t live to receive anything. It’s for them I accept this, not for myself."
He also saw action as part of the British Expeditionary Force in Dunkirk in 1940. During this battle he was wrongly reported as being dead.
James said: “I jokingly told my wife that the only reason I was getting the Legion D’honneur medal was part of France’s apology for trying to kill me off.
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| James Manning, French Consul M. Jean-Claude Lafontaine and Ernest Ellerton |
“In all honesty though it’s an honour to receive the medal after all these years. I can’t help but think about the soldiers who didn’t live to receive anything. It’s for them I accept this, not for myself."
The event was attended by both
veterans’ family and friends as well as Mayor of Dronfield, Coun Liz Blanshard.
The ceremony was arranged after editor of the Dronfield Eye, Mike Firth, learnt that Ernest and James could not attend an official presentation due to their health issues.
Mike said: “We were all overwhelmed and it was very emotional when the Last Post was played and we had a minute’s silence.
“It was an honour to organise the event. Ted and James deserved to be celebrated, they’re real heroes.”
Both veterans have now become honorary Chevaliers (knights) of France, the highest honour the country can bestow.
The ceremony was arranged after editor of the Dronfield Eye, Mike Firth, learnt that Ernest and James could not attend an official presentation due to their health issues.
Mike said: “We were all overwhelmed and it was very emotional when the Last Post was played and we had a minute’s silence.
“It was an honour to organise the event. Ted and James deserved to be celebrated, they’re real heroes.”
Both veterans have now become honorary Chevaliers (knights) of France, the highest honour the country can bestow.
Their medal’s citation reads: “As we contemplate this Europe of peace, we
must never forget the heroes like you who came from Britain and the
Commonwealth to begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France.”
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