A RADLETT war veteran will be given France's top decoration, the Legion d'Honneur,this afternoon as part of the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Ernie Brewer, 84, who stormed ashore under heavy fire on Gold beach exactly 65 years ago, will be formally inculcated in the legion by French Minister of State for Defence and Veterans, Jean-Marie Bockel, along with eight other veterans.

Peter Hodge, general secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association, said: “We are extremely delighted that the French authorities have honoured these brave men and women. Sixty-five years ago, they risked their lives in one of the biggest military operations ever undertaken. Since then, they have all worked tirelessly with the Normandy Veterans Association to ensure that the events of June 6, 1944, are never forgotten. ”