Exclusive by Alan Quick

A WESTCOUNTRY veteran of the D-Day landings has been awarded one of France’s highest military awards, the Legion d’honneur.

Richard Huxtable (94), of Longmeadows, Crediton, trained as a dispatch rider at Blackpool prior to joining the 392 Battery Royal Artillery in the 79th Armoured Division as a dispatch rider before being transferred to the 15th Scottish Division.

He left Tilbury Docks soon after D-Day, landing on the Normandy “Gold” beach.

It was on those beaches and roads around the area that he served, carrying messages backwards and forwards as the battles continued during the Second World War.

Richard explained that radio signals were not permitted and dispatch riders carried messages night and day.

He recounted some of the battles he was involved with and one in particular where a village had changed hands six or seven times, first occupied by the Germans, then the British and on.

His service continued there and into Holland and then Germany and it was in Germany that he was injured.

He was flown back to Liverpool and because he leg was infected he was transferred to a hospital in Plymouth.

It was while he was in the hospital that he met a nurse, love at first sight, who he has been with for 70 years.

He and Eileen have been married for 66 years.

Richard was 23 and Eileen was 18 when they met.

After the War, Richard, who was born in Combe Martin, North Devon, returned to the area to live with Eileen, where he became a plumbing and heating engineer, later moving to Ilfracombe.

Their daughter, who lives in Exeter, followed in her mother’s footsteps and is a nurse. Their son was tragically killed some years ago. They have two great-grandchildren, Oscar and Sullivan.

The couple have lived in Crediton for 15 years and have been active members of the community.

Eileen still attends Crediton Parish Church regularly but Richard is more house bound as his sight is failing.

They are both members of the Crediton branch of the Royal British Legion and have returned to Normandy many times.

Richard is to receive the Chevalier in the Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur officially at a ceremony to be held at the Exeter White Ensign Club.

His award has been recognised by French Ambassador Sylvie Berman.

She said: “I offer you my warmest congratulations on this high honour in recognition of your acknowledged military engagement and your involvement in the liberation of France.

“As we contemplate this Europe of peace, we must never forget the heroes like you, who came from Britain and the Commonwealth to begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France.

“We owe our freedom and security to your dedication, because you were ready to risk your life.”

Eileen said that Richard was among the lucky dispatch riders to return. She said that the Richard lost two fellow dispatch riders who were killed by Germans who placed wires across roads, resulting in both of them being decapitated.

Eileen added that Richard “had served his country well” and he said he was “proud to have done so”.

He added: “I was never one to seek the limelight or publicity but I am proud to accept this honour and do so for those who have gone on and to remind people today so that they never forget.”