TWO 95-year-old veterans of the Second World War will receive France’s highest military and civil award at a ceremony in Cardiff today.

Peter Horn, originally from Newport but now living in Cwmbran, and Raymond Simmons – who lives in Caldicot but is originally from Brighton – were both involved in the Allied invasion of Europe in June 1944.

Mr Horn was a private in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), assigned to 154 Brigade of the 51st Highland Division when he landed in France four days after D-Day.

Coming ashore on Sword Beach, one of five on the Normandy coast targeted as landing areas for the Allied invasion force, his job was to help take ammunition and other supplies to advancing troops.

Mr Simmons joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18 and was a chief petty officer on ships operating as part of the Arctic Convoys, where crews would be responsible for making sure cargo and troops had a safe passage through waters patrolled by German u-boats.

Having survived these experiences, he returned to England and took part in the D-Day operations which paved the way for Allied victory 11 months later in May 1945.

The French government has been awarding the Légion d’Honneur to D-Day veterans from many different countries for several years, as a means of honouring and thanking those who fought and risked their lives to liberate France from German occupation during the Second World War.

Mike Kenworthy, a friend who helped Mr Horn with his application for the Legion d’Honneur, will accompany him to the ceremony today.

“It is well deserved and Peter is really looking forward to it,” said Mr Kenworthy.

Mr Simmons will be accompanied by his daughter Carole MacDougall, and his great-grandson Oscar.

“The award came as a surprise. It is the highest award from France for foreigners and is quite an achievement,” said Mr Simmons.

His father had fought in the First World War and Mr Simmons, though just a teenager when he joined up, added that “it was the right thing to do.”