Veteran Arthur Reid 192 Sqn proudly displays his Legion d’Honneur Medal with son Arthur & wife Linda
Dad was awarded the Legion d’Honneur medal today in the French Consulate in Edinburgh. This was awarded for his input on D-Day Operations through the classified operations of 100 Group. I had not picked up on the Award until recently and they are looking for anyone who had an input into the success of D-Day, with sadly many of the applicants no longer with us.
I submitted the Application a bit unclear on whether it would be successful, with the intention of passing the results on to anyone else who flew under RAF 100 Group and might be entitled. For anyone wanting to know about this, the Application process is straightforward, and I am happy to pass on any details if required. More about the Award follows. Meanwhile, this photograph was taken at the time alongside others receiving the Legion d’Honneur:
The Legion d'Honneur
The French Government has been awarding the Legion d’Honneur to D-Day Veterans from many different countries for several years, as a way of honouring and thanking those who fought and risked their lives to secure France’s liberation during the Second World War.
On the 70th Anniversary of D-Day in June 2014, the French President announced that the Distinction would be awarded to all British Veterans who fought for the liberation of France during World War II but must have taken part in Military Operations in France between 1944 and 1945.
Since June 2014, more than 5,000 medals have been awarded. 400 more Veterans will receive their medals in coming weeks. Approximately 100 names are still being processed. The process should be completed in coming months. However, new applications will be dealt with as and when they are made.
HOW ARE APPLICATIONS PROCESSED?
Applications should be sent to the British Ministry of Defence, which checks that applicants fulfil the relevant criteria. These are then passed on to the French authorities. Applications should not be sent directly to the French Embassy or to the French authorities in Paris.
The French authorities subsequently endorse the names forwarded by the MoD for appointment to the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, before an ad hoc decree is adopted.
Due to the vast number of applications received, a new administrative procedure was put in place in July 2015 in order to speed up the processing of applications. This new procedure has had the desired effect and applications are now being processed and confirmed at a much faster rate.
The French authorities attach great importance to ensuring each Veteran receives their medal, and they are working hard, in coordination with the British authorities, to ensure that all Veterans who have already sent their applications to the MoD receive their medal.
The Legion of Honour is the highest French Order of Merit for Military and civil merits. However, the Legion d’Honneur did use the organisation of the old French, a civil law code: the ‘Code of the Legion of Honour and of the Military Medal’.
First Induction: 14 July 1804
Classes: 1 Grand-maitre; 67 Grand(s)-croix;
Established: 19 May 1802; 216 years ago.
Awarded for: Excellent civil or Military conduct.
Veteran Arthur Reid’s letter confirming he would receive the Award
Further information available from:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/d-day-70-application-form-for-award-of-the-legion-dhonneur
*Ministry of Defence, DC Sec Commemorations, 6-C-01 Main Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB
Love from
Linda & Arthur Reid
xx
NOTE: Anyone wishing further information or sight of the Application Form should contact Linda and Arthur direct. They are more than happy to help having already been through the process.
This article is from the Spring 2019 issue of Confound and Destroy
