(MOD) British D-Day veterans to receive top French Honour - Amended

Ten British World War Two veterans are to be honoured by the French government today for their role in liberating France in 1944.

The nine men and one woman, who all took part in the D-Day landings, will receive the Legion d'Honneur in ceremonies this weekend, marking the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

The Legion d'Honneur is the highest decoration in France, awarded for excellent military conduct. Among those who will receive the honour today are several men who were among the first to land on the Normandy beaches on the morning of June 6th 1944 and a female nurse who attended to the many wounded on Gold beach.

This afternoon, nine of the veterans will become Knights of the Legion d'Honneur when they are presented with their Chevalier medals by the French Minister of State for Defence and Veterans, Jean-Marie Bockel.

Peter Hodge, Honorary General Secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association, said:

"We are extremely delighted that the French authorities have honoured these brave men and women. Sixty-five years ago, they risked their lives in one of the biggest military operations ever undertaken. Since then, they have all worked tirelessly with the Normandy Veterans Association
to ensure that the events of June 6th 1944 are never forgotten. "

Veterans Minister Kevan Jones, who will also be at the ceremony at Les Invalides in Paris, said:

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the men and women of the Armed Forces who, sixty-five years ago, risked their lives for freedom. I am immensely proud that these British veterans are today being decorated with such an honour, in recognition of their great courage and bravery."

Another Veteran, who landed on Juno beach on D-Day, will receive the higher rank of Officer of the Legion d'Honneur from President Sarkozy at a ceremony at Colleville-sur-Mer tomorrow.