A GWENT Second World War veteran has joined an illustrious list of people in receiving a Legion of Honour medal from France.

The French Government’s highest order for military and civil merits has been given to just under 900 British people, including Sir Winston Churchill, and now Newbridge’s Haswell “Ozzie” Avon is now its most recent recipient.

Mr Avon, 92, recently received the medal for his services in the D-Day operation landings on June 6 1944 at Omaha beach in Normandy, where amongst its high French cliffs the allied forces saw their heaviest casualties of the operation.

Mr Avon, of Meredith Terrace, said: “I was pleased as punch when I received the medal, I was really surprise as it’s not something that you expect at all.

“For years I never had any medal or recognition and it’s only been in the last few years that I have received several.”

The retired father-of-two, who was born in Crumlin and owned a newsagents in Abercarn for 50 years, was conscripted into the Merchant Navy during the war and was on the USS Empire Gauntlet which delivered 2,000 American troops to the beach during the battle that swung the war into the allied forces favour.

At the 70th anniversary of the D-Day celebrations two years ago, French president François Hollande confirmed that any living people who heroically risked their lives in the ‘liberation of Europe’ would be entitled to the honour.

Ruth Goodall, daughter of Mr Avon, said: “He never really spoke about what he did or saw in the war until he turned 90 two years ago.

“Seeing the celebrations really opened him up and although we knew he was there we never really knew much about it.

“He started speaking about it and hearing stories that we never knew, but it’s typical of people of that generation.

“I’m so proud of him receiving the award and even though his smile was beaming when he received it, he said that he didn’t want much fuss.”

During his time as a merchant seaman during the war, Mr Avon risked his life trips all across the globe including Canada and New Zealand as well as Panama not long after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, with the odds stacked against him returning to Britain.

After a chance meeting with Brian Evans, president of the Abercarn branch of the Royal British Legion, Mr Evans sent a form to the MoD earlier this year, which was forwarded onto the French Government.

He said: “It’s was a privilege to help and I’m delighted our veterans are getting what they justly deserve.”