ONE of the few remaining veterans of the D-Day landings from Wales has received the Legion d’Honneur – France’s highest honour.
Joseph ‘Jim’ Ball, 97, was presented with the medal by the honorary consul for France in Wales last week, in a ceremony at Morel Court Care Home where he lives.
The Legion d’Honneur is being awarded to all surviving veterans involved in the D-Day landings in June, 1944, as part of a pledge made by the President of France at the time of the invasion’s 70th anniversary.
Honorary consul Marie Brousseau-Navarro congratulated Mr Ball on his award.
“As an exceptional measure, all veterans who participated in the D-Day landings are to be awarded the Legion d’Honneur,” she said.
“It is the highest honour in France, the very highest level of recognition.
“I was telling Jim he’s a real knight now, so we should call him, Sir Jim!”
Mr Ball, who has written numerous articles about his time during the war providing front-line troops with supplies, thanked his guests for attending and said it was nice for others who played their part in the conflict to be recognised.
He said: “What a coincidence that the preface of my war diaries – the fact that I didn’t accent on the bravery but congratulate the people who carried out other services – is exactly what this medal is for.
“Great minds think alike,” he added.
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