British Second World War Veterans, many of whom took part in the D-Day landings of June 1944, have been awarded with the Legion d'Honneur - France's top honour - for their role in liberating ther country from Nazi occupation.
At an event in London, the men, most of whom are in their 90s, were presented with their medals by the French ambassador Sylvie Bermann.
Eighty-nine-year old Harry Card was one of those honoured at the ceremony. He served aboard HMS Swift which struck a mine and sank on 24 June 1944, with the loss of 53 lives
The able seaman survived the explosion and was rescued from the sea.
The youngest veteran to be honoured, he said he accepted the Legion d'Honneur on behalf of those who lost their lives: "I remember it like it was yesterday, it is sometimes like a bad hangover, but it was worth it.
"I gave up my freedom to give France back their freedom. I hope and pray something like this never happens again."
Peter Cliffe, 94, was a captain in the Lincolnshire Regiment when he landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944. Twenty-two men in his unit were killed or wounded as they helped cover exits from bridges during the landing.
He described his relief at the moment he arrived at Leon-Sur-Mer in Normandy: "I felt like saying 'at last', I had waited for so long. I never had any doubt that we would win."
The ceremony is the latest in a number of presentations that have taken place since the 70th anniversary of D-Day two years ago, when President Francois Hollande promised to honour surviving British veterans who served in France during the Second World War.
The ceremony is the latest in a number of presentations that have taken place since the 70th anniversary of D-Day two years ago, when President Francois Hollande promised to honour surviving British veterans who served in France during the Second World War.
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