THE family of a former Broad Hinton man have been presented with the French Legion d’Honneur on his behalf after staff at the home where he spent his last weeks helped to discover that he fought in the liberation of France in 1944.

Mervin Godwin was being cared for at Trowbridge Oaks Rest Home while the Great Western Hospital in Swindon put together a care package for him.

Sadly he died on December 15 aged 93.

While at the home Mr Godwin told staff about his war experiences with the Royal Artillery including fighting at Pegasus Bridge during the D-Day landings.

Mr Godwin’s daughter Sandra Clifford and her brother Adrian were at the ceremony last Wednesday.

“He knew about the medal before he died and it all started at the home, where he was for 10 weeks for respite while the hospital put a care plan together,” Mrs Clifford said.

“Ray Horan, activity organiser at Trowbridge Oaks, got really friendly with him and he got on with him really well. Dad opened up to him about the war which he didn’t do with us and they got on so well. When it came to dad moving home, he didn’t want to leave.

“It didn’t worry us that he was in Trowbridge as we knew he was being looked after and was enjoying himself.”

Mr Godwin was one of 181 men who took off from Dorset in gliders on June 5, 1944, landing within 75 yards of Pegasus Bridge halfway between Caen and Ouistreham.

Within 10 minutes of landing and surprising the Germans who were defending the bridge, it was taken by the British attackers.

All this took place just minutes before the Allied invasion of Normandy with landings on Sword Beach a few miles north of the bridge.

The Mayor, Councillor Roger Andrews, along with his French wife Aurore, who was representing her country’s government, presented Mrs Clifford and Mr Godwin with the medal last week.

France is honouring British D-Day veterans with its highest war medal.

The Legion d’Honneur will be added to Mr Godwin’s other medals including the Battle of Britain star, African Desert Rat star, France and Germany star, King’s Commendation for Bravery and the medal for war of 1939-1945.