An 'ordinary man' receives the Legion d'honneur
Creators: name: Project Team, Their Finest Hour
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 430304
subject: British history
classificationCode: 430308
subject: European history (excl. British, classical Greek and Roman)
classificationCode: 430316
subject: International history

description: Christine had come here today to talk about her father, Roy Waring. He was resident in Menston from April 1954 and was born on 23rd January 1925 and died on 29th November 2016. He served in the Kings Own Yorkshire Infantry from 1943. He was involved on active duty on D Day and went in on Day 3 at Sword Beach. He never really talked about his experiences there. He was also involved after the war in the liberation of Roosendaal in Holland, and was stationed there with a family for some time. Because of his service on D Day he was awarded France's highest honour, the Legion D'Honneur. He was about 90 when it was awarded because the French decided to award the medals very late in the day to those involved in the liberation of France. He was just becoming ill but was just about able to understand what it meant. Someone (she thinks someone from the regiment he was in) came to the flats in Ling Court to give it to him, she didn't need to go to Buckingham Palace or France to receive it, which would have been a struggle. Christine had brought the letter awarding the medal and a photo of the medal, which had been given to his grandson and oldest great grandson.Christine had also brought in some photos of Roy Waring when he was in the army and a newspaper clipping recording the liberation of Roosendaal and Nispen. She also brought a letter from Roy's mother recording the events on VE day in Bradford, and two newspaper clippings from the Telegraph and Argus (a local paper) from May 7th 2020, the 75th anniversary of D Day. The newspaper used the letter in an article, and also published some photos which included Roy in the army, Roy's mum Josephine Waring, and Christine's mum at the age of 15 celebrating VE day in Ilkley. Roy's mum's letter describes the Lord Mayor and councillors going in full regalia to Bradford Cathedral, an illuminated picture of Winston Churchill, a service of thanksgiving and a band in the Town Hall. His mum says she hopes Roy will be able to listen to the Kings Speech at 3pm; she obviously doesn't know where he is. She ends by saying that she will say a prayer for him.When he came back from the war he worked in various occupations such as the electricity and gas boards. He had eight children (4 girls and four boys) and 10 grandchildren. He was 18 when he joined up and he got to the rank of corporal. He was a gunner. He later went back to Roosendaal and they gave him the freedom of the city. He had obviously seen some horrors but didn't like to talk about them. He did recount being in a trench and the men beside him were killed. Later his sergeant came along and said' Well if you survived that, you'll survive the war'. Christine wryly commented that there was no counselling at that time! Roy kept in touch with this sergeant, Jack Whitehouse, who came from Northumberland, for many years - there was a very close bond between them and Jack gave Christine the details that led to the award of the Legion D'Honneur. Christine says she just wanted to come along today to tell the story of an ordinary working man who was awarded the Legion D'Honneur.