War veteran receives Medal of Honour on his Southport deathbed

War veteran receives Medal of Honour on his Southport deathbed

A World War Two veteran and former prisoner of war has finally received his long awaited Legion d’Honneur medal as he lies seriously ill in hospital.

92-year-old Ernest Jones, who is currently in Southport Hospital, was presented with his medal of honour by the Lord Mayor of Sefton in a special ceremony on Tuesday June 21, despite it being touch and go to see if he would receive the medal before he passes away.

His family had asked the MP’s office to try and urgently fast track Ernest’s application for the Legion d’Honneur after he fell ill as a result of a fall earlier this year.

Now, despite doctors saying he has only a short matter of time left, the heroic Ainsdale war veteran and former prisoner of war in Germany’s infamous Moosburg Stalag, managed to raise enough energy to kiss his long awaited commendation three times.

Ernest fought with the 15th Scottish Division in Normandy June 1944 as an infantry gunner.

During his time in action he took part in Operation Epsom as an offensive intended to outflank and seize the German-occupied city of Caen in Normandy.

Later on during the Allied advance campaign Ernest crossed into Holland where he was unfortunately shot and captured by German troops in the town of Best.

Despite originally being listed as Missing In Action, Ernest was held as a prisoner of war at Moosburg Stalag until it was liberated in 1945.

His daughter Christine Rice said: “it was a momentous occasion for Ernest to finally receive the medal he has waited over 70 years for.

She added: “Ernest is very ill at the moment and hasn’t got very long to go. He took a fall in April and eventually left hospital but after ten days at home he became ill again, suffering a stroke as he waited to go home from hospital for the second time.

“The doctors have said he does not have very long to go unfortunately so it was incredible for him to receive the Legion d’Honneur in time which he has been waiting for.

“This is the highest honour that France can bestow and when he received it he was able to know what it was and managed to kiss the medal three times.

“It is very important to him and to us for Ernest to receive the Legion d’Honneur – especially to honour all those who did not make it home.

“Last week my parents celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary – in fact just two weeks after marrying my mum he was in Normandy fighting on the frontline.

“At this point he was assigned to the Glasgow Highlanders and became part of the famous 15th Scottish Infantry Division – acknowledged to be one of the finest fighting divisions in Normandy.

“Along with his best friend Ron they operated the Bren gun and fought along the Odon Valley near to Caen before crossing the Seine north of Paris.

“In Holland he was shot and captured – seeing his best friend die alongside him – and became a POW ending up in Stalag VIIA near Munich.

“After the war he started working for Flintshire County Council in the administration department, retired in 1982 and moved over to  Southport to be nearer to me and my husband.

“Over the last 32 years they have lived quietly in Ainsdale enjoying ballroom dancing at the Floral hall and other venues in the early years”

MP Case Worker and Ainsdale Councillor Lynn Thompson took on Ernest’s application earlier this year to see if the government could fast track the medal.

She said: “We are delighted that Ernest has finally recieved the Legion d’Honneur.

“Mr Jones’s daughter Christine contacted the MP’s office after becoming concerned about the slow processing of her father’s application for the medal.

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