TWO British D-Day veterans have been awarded France's highest order of military merit, the Légion d'Honneur.

Peter Gardner, aged 97, and William (Bill) Ridgewell, aged 94, both served with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME) during the Second World War.

They were presented with their medals at Blandford Camp, at a ceremony attended by representatives of both the French and British military – Colonel Cedric Franco and Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Fierling.

The pair were also assisted by the North Dorset branch of the SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, with the submission of their medal applications.

Peter was called up in 1942 and sent to train as a wireless mechanic.

As well as serving throughout northern France and Belgium, he also saw action in Holland, as part of Operation Market Garden.

A SSAFA spokesman explained: "He returned to England in October 1944 and was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France-Germany Star and 1939-1945 War Medal.

"Following his discharge in 1946, he became an art teacher in London’s East End and married his then wife Pat."

Peter is also an artist, and is still painting into his 98th year, with a forthcoming exhibition at the Shaftesbury Gallery in Devon.

Meanwhile, Bill was enlisted at Cambridge in 1943 and served throughout northern France, Belgium, Holland and on into Germany.

He landed at Sword Beach on June 11, 1944, and took part in mine disposal.

The spokesman explained: "Bill was discharged in October 1946 and has been awarded the 1939-1945 Star, France-Germany Star and the 1939-1945 War Medal. Following his discharge, Bill returned to farming in North Dorset and married his then wife Paddy."

The award ceremony was also attended by a small group of French school pupils from Caen.

They were invited to attend after writing a letter to Peter while studying the liberation of France for a school project.