Squadron Leader Stan Smith, of Llwyncelyn near Cilgerran, was presented with the insignia of the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest honour, at a ceremony in Cardiff recently.

The investment was made by Her Excellency Sylvie Bermann, the French Ambassador, in the presence of the Welsh Secretary, Steven Crabb MP.

The award was authorised by the President of France in recognition of Squadron Leader Smith's contribution to the liberation of France in 1944.

At the time he was a young Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve acting as second in command of a Tank Landing Craft delivering six Sherman tanks to Gold beach on D Day.

The craft achieved its objective but was damaged by enemy mortar fire and mines. It managed to return to Southhampton and Midshipman Smith was then in charge of taking it to the repair yard.

He then spent the rest of the European war ferrying supplies to France and then moved to Milford Haven to prepare for an invasion of Japan which turned out to be not needed.

After the war Stan remained in the Navy, specialising in small fast craft and later transferred to the RAF, serving in Air-Sea Rescue launches.

He then moved to Aberporth, where he was in charge of the boats operating from the RAE site before retiring to live in Llwyncelyn.

Stan's many friends have been congratulating him on gaining the much-deserved award to add to his BEM and have enjoyed learning of his experiences.

Stan is a past chairman of the Cardigan and District Probus Club and further details of Stan's D-Day experiences can be found on the club's website http://cardiprobus.tripod.com