Rayleigh and Wickford MP and former Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois recently presented Second World War Royal Navy veteran, Mr Alan Iles, with the Legion d’Honneur, on behalf of the French Government.
The award was given to Mr Iles in recognition of his military involvement with the liberation of France during the Second World War and appoints Mr Iles as a Chevalier in the Ordre nation de la Legion d’honneur. Mr Iles, who joined the Royal Navy in 1943, aged 18, played an important role on the minesweeper HMS Clinton clearing the beaches before the D-Day landings, during the liberation of Europe.
Mark presented Mr Iles with his award during a ceremony at the Rayleigh branch of the Royal Naval Association in front of his family, friends and fellow shipmates.
Commenting on the presentation Mark Francois said:
“I was privileged to present Alan with the Legion d’Honneur, as awarded to him by the French Government in view of his role in the liberation of Europe. We owe a great debt to this Naval veteran who fought so we can live in a free country.”