A NORMANDY campaign veteran has added the highest order of French merit to his collection of military medals.

John Munnery, of Winchester Road, received a letter earlier this month informing him of his appointment to the rank of Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour).

A ceremony is being planned at the French embassy, in London, where he will be formally presented with the insignia, which recognises “military engagement and steadfast involvement in the liberation of France during the Second World War.”

John, 93, now has five medals recognising his role in the Second World War, including the 1939-45 Medal, the Defence Medal and French and Germany Victory Medals.

John was a machine gunner who fought in Normandy after D-Day. He was deployed on July 24, 1944, and remained in action until early September when he was injured in combat.

“I got wounded on the way to Brussels,” said John, “I had my hand shot – lost a finger.”

John was taken back to England where he spent his 20th birthday in Winchester hospital, but the journey home was anything but smooth.

He added: “As we were going up the steps someone tapped my hand and said, ‘you’re are going on that one there.’ I looked over and thought, ‘Christ, that will never get off the ground.’ The sergeant said ‘it goes like a dream’.’

“Took about 100 bounces to get in the air!”

After the war, John settled down with his wife, Audrey-Jean, and used the £76 pay-off he received for the loss of his finger to buy an engagement ring, before relocating to Andover.

“We moved down here in 1950. Great years they were. Andover was booming, a lovely little place.”

“I intend to stay here until I go,” he added.

Remembering the war, John singles out the “fantastic officers” who fought in his section, as well one special memory following his return home.

He said: “My father came to the station to meet us. He put his arm around my shoulder, and he couldn’t talk for ten minutes. It was a heart-wrenching ten minutes.

“First words he said to me was, ‘you need a haircut!’”