France honours 11 British World War II veterans (29.03.06)

France honours 11 British World War II veterans

On Wednesday, 29 March at 11.30 a.m., the French Ambassador in London, M. Gérard Errera, presented the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur to 11 British veterans at the Résidence de France.

These 11 veterans fought in two daring operations on French soil in 1942:

- 10 of them took part in Operation Chariot, on 28 March 1942 (the presentation is taking place 64 years and one day after the operation), aimed at neutralizing the Saint-Nazaire port installations;

- the 11th took part in Operation Jubilee, during the night of 18-19 August 1942, against enemy installations in Dieppe.

Winston Churchill had described Operation Chariot as "a deed of glory intimately involved in high strategy".

The award of the Légion d’Honneur to these British veterans pays tribute to their courage in the fight to restore freedom in Europe. Ambassador Errera took this opportunity to express France’s gratitude to those who helped us so much and at such great cost during those dark years, and contributed to restoring the freedom we enjoy today".

The Ambassador also spoke of the "immense debt which present generations owe to these valiant men who fought for freedom".

Some French Lycée pupils were present and talked to the veterans.