AN ANDOVER resident was awarded France’s highest decoration medal last weekend.

Alec Harman, aged 94, was presented with the Chevalier Legion D’honneur at Andover Nursing Home on Weyhill Road, in an award ceremony which was attended by members of the Andover British Legion and the mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Iris Andersen.

Mr Harman was presented the medal for his service in the British Army and, in particular, during the D-Day landings when he landed on Gold Beach.

Also in attendance was Mr Harman’s family, including his great-great-grandson and serving officer from the original Devon and Dorset’s Regiment, Major Haydn Jellard of 7 Battalion The Rifles – with whom he served – who presented Alec his medal.

The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour, is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802.

The order is the highest decoration in France and, while membership in the Légion is technically restricted to French nationals, foreign nationals who have served France, or the ideals it upholds, may receive the honour Mr Harman served with the 1st Dorset’s regiment, it was later merged to become the Devon and Dorset’s, and later in 2007 became The Rifles, and landed on Gold Beach during the D-Day landings as part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division.

This landing was a vital role enabling the British to link up with the Americans on Omaha and the Canadians on Juno.

It was not an easy task, especially when the regiment were up against the tenacious German 352nd Infantry Division.