Posted on 01/18/2017 3:13:18 PM PST by nickcarraway
A ceremony was held at Edinburgh Castle to reward the men for their incredible acts of bravery.
SCOTTISH veterans of the Second World War have been awarded France's highest honour for their role in liberating the country from German occupation.
The National Order of the Legion Honour (the Legion d'honneur) was bestowed on nine men who took part in the D-Day landings in 1944 at Normandy in northern France.
A ceremony was held at Edinburgh Castle on Monday with Emmanuel Cocher, the French consul general in Scotland, presenting the awards to the nine men.
Among the recipients was 99-year-old John McMillan from Barnton, Edinburgh, who served as a Major in the Royal Artillery Field Regiment, part of the 15th Scottish Infantry Division.
Galashiels veteran Adam Kelly, 94, was awarded France's highest honour (Photo: Corporal Ben Maher/MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire) After landing at Normandy in June 1944, he served throughout the campaign and was awarded the Military Cross in July of that year for acts of exemplary gallantry during active, dangerous operations against the German forces.
READ MORE Selfless Scot who died saving Jewish schoolgirls during the Holocaust to be honoured in a new heritage centre Adam Kelly, 94, from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, was also decorated for his role as part of 525 Company, 51st Highland Division as a driver. After landing in Normandy he saw action near Caen in northern France and then advanced through the country into Belgium.
The Legion d'honneur was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte in recognition of both military and civilian merit.
Membership of the Legion is technically restricted to French nationals but foreign nationals who have served France or the ideals it upholds may also receive the honour.
In a statement on its website, the French Consulate in Edinburgh said: "The Consul General decorated nine British veterans for the landing and liberation of France in the presence of nearly 200 people.
Second Lieutenant Stanley Young receives his honour for his part in the Normandy landings (Photo: Corporal Ben Maher/MoD Crown Copyright/PA Wire)
"A beautiful way to start the year is to honour those heroes to whom we owe the peace, independence and rediscovered honour of our nation."
Kevin Gray, chief executive of Legion Scotland, added: "Remembrance is at the heart of what we do and ceremonies like this are another reminder of the sacrifices made and bravery shown by our veterans.
"We would like to congratulate the men that received France's highest national order as recognition for their service to their country."
Very moving but why did they wait so long ?
The dude on back row, second from the right, looks too young to have been in the Falklands War much less WW II.
Perhaps he was a relative standing in for a deceased recipient.
See the red ribbon on the laapels of nine men. Those are the recipients. They will be able to sear a very small ribbon in their lapel buttonhole for the rest of their lives. When you see it on someone, you know he has received the Legion D’Honneur.
sear= wear , laapels= lapels
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