Veterans receive Normandy Bar

It was a perfect day at the Priest’s House Museum for the gathering of those veterans unable to attend the presentation of the Normandy bar in France recently.  The badge, created by the French Ministry of Defence marks the last official observation of the Normandy landings sixty-five years ago.

Mr James Gibson-Fleming DL Vice Lord Lieutenant of Dorset presented the badges to veterans in the presence of Pauline Reynolds, Chairman of East Dorset District Council and Cllr John Burden, the Mayor of Wimborne Minster and the Mayoress, Ann Burden as well as the Chief Executive of East Dorset District Council, Alan Breakwell.

Mostly in their eighties, these brave men all had stories to tell.  Mr Ian Munro who was a captain in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15th Scottish Division and who was awarded the Military Cross said, “We took all the brunt of the fighting at the bocage and fought the Hitler Youth.”

The Mayor of Wimborne said, “I can’t speak too highly of these gentlemen.  If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”