A FORMER Ludgershall man has been awarded with one of France’s highest honours.

Bob Stoodley was presented with the Legion of Honour as part of ceremonies to mark the 72nd Anniversary of the D-Day Landings on Sunday 5 June.

The 92-year-old was given the medal for his involvement in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.

Acting Corporal Bob Stoodley was one of the first to land in Normandy as part of 22nd Independent Parachute Company, 6th Airborne Division.

Mr Stoodley now lives in Chinley, but he has a brother that lives in Everleigh, who was happy to tell the Andover Advertiser of his brother’s award.

His brother, Jim, said: “Of course, I’m so proud of him.”

He explained that as a member of a pathfinder unit, his brother’s role was parachute onto a specific drop zone ahead of the main force and establish homing beacons to guide the rest of the force in.

Along with other members of the Pathfinder Company, Mr Stoodley was then tasked with defending the area as well.

Not many of the pathfinder unit survived and Mr Stoodley was severely wounded in the knee.

He spent the rest of the war at the German Stalag 4B medical unit as a prisoner of war.

Mr Stoodley received his medal in the post in September last year from the current of Ambassador of France to the UK, Sylvie Bermann.

The letter states: “I offer the warmest congratulations on this high honour in recognition of your acknowledged military engagement and your steadfast involvement in the Liberation of France during the Second World War.

“As we contemplate this Europe of peace, we must never the heroes like you, who came from Britain and the Commonwealth to begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France.

“We owe our Freedom and security to your dedication, because you were ready to risk your life.”