FIVE World War II D-Day veterans from Swanage were presented with special commemorative badges at the town’s railway station on Monday.

The presentation, on behalf of the French authorities, included a Ministry of Defence letter inviting each veteran to submit an application for the Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur medal, which is awarded by the French government for taking part in the Battle of Normandy.

Residents were invited to attend the ceremony, where veterans Ray Wiseman, Brian Guy, Peter Lovett, Lee Wrake and Cliff Brown were honoured for their part in the largest amphibious landings in history.

Mayor of Swanage Ali Patrick, Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell and Dorset County Council chairman John Wilson made the presentations.

Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns said: “It was a real pleasure on behalf of the Swanage Railway Trust to welcome the D-Day veterans to the Swanage Railway to receive these awards.

“There can’t be many small towns that are home to five D-Day veterans who all took part in the very brave but costly in lives assault on the Normandy beaches 70 years ago.”

Lee Wrake was part of a Royal Air Force radar team that landed with US forces on Omaha Beach, while Royal Navy sailor Ray Wiseman was a signalman launching troop landing craft off Sword Beach.

Peter Lovett served with the British Army and landed on Juno beach and Royal Engineer Brian Guy cleared German invasion obstacles from Sword Beach.

Cliff Brown served on a Royal Navy minesweeper that took part in the historic amphibious landings.

The five D-Day veterans were also joined by fellow World War Two vet Stan Goodwin, who worked on the concrete ‘Mulberry’ harbours, which played a key role in the Allied success after the landings.