A NEWBRIDGE veteran has been posthumously awarded the highest medal in France for his contribution to the liberation of France.

Last month Charlotte Morton, the widow of Roy Morton, who died aged 92 on November 8 last year, accepted the Chevalier De La Legion D’Honneur (a knight of the Legion of Honour) on behalf of her late husband.

Mr Morton of Pentwynmawar landed with his battery, on Juno Beach on D-Day on June 4, 1944 to support the Canadians who lacked the artillery support that they so badly needed.

Their objective was the capture of the strategic town of Caen. Fierce German resistance resulted in their objective being achieved only after heavy allied bombing.

Mr Morton always volunteered for the Observation Post because he hated the sound of the guns. He ignored the dangers posed by his often forward position to escape the sound of his own guns.

His long-time friend, Brian Evans MBE, president of Abercarn Branch Royal British Legion, praised the French President Francois Hollande for this tangible recognition of the part played by the allied forces in the liberation of France and the rest of Europe.

He added that the former gunner was a remarkable man in both war and peace.

He said: “His military exploits were matched by his contribution to humanity when hostilities ceased.”

Mr Morton, a grandfather-of-six and a great-grandfather-of-one who was born in Pentwynmawar, was a committed Christian who became a Deacon at New Bethel URC in Mynyddislwyn.

As a past president of Abercarn and Newbridge Rotary Club, he gave over 45 years of dedicated service resulting in the award of a Paul Harris Fellowship and other Rotary services awards.

He also collected over 60,000 pairs of glasses for refurbishment and distribution in third world countries.

Mrs Morton, 92, married Mr Morton in Swansea on VE Day May 7 1945 after meeting at the New Bethel URC in Mynydyddislwyn.

The following day he sailed on a boat to India to continue his war in the Far East, returning home a year later.

Mrs Morton spent her war years in a factory in Birmingham making spitfires.

When he returned the couple settled in Newbridge Mr Morton, a bricklayer, set up Dinas Building Company which remains a family business today and had three children.

She said: “It was a nice surprise to receive the medal in the post and lovely that he was recognised for what he did but it is sad that it came after his death.”

“In those days people that were in the war didn’t ever talk about their experiences. Roy might have told me a little story if it was amusing but not if it was about anything sad.”

“It is something I can pass down to his great-grandchildren,” she added.