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Special hand over for north-east D-Day veteran


By David Porter

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There was a special hand over for north-east WWII veteran Peter Davies of Mintlaw to commemorate his active service.

Now aged 96, he joined the Local Defence Volunteers (which were to become the Home Guard) in 1942 and signed on in 1943, aged 19.

A member of the Royal Artillery, he was sent to France on June 12 1944 (D-Day +6) and remained on active service until July 1947.

Having been missed out last year when the commemorative coins were initially distributed to mark the end of the war, Ian Mearns from Turriff, who is a Veterans Support Volunteer presented Mr Davies who is still a member of the Longside Branch with the special item.

Peter received the commemorative item from veteran's support volunteer Ian Mearns.
Peter received the commemorative item from veteran's support volunteer Ian Mearns.

In 2016, Mr Davies was one of five recipients in the north-east of the Legion d’Honneur, France's highest honour in a ceremony held in Aberdeen in recognition of those who had been involved in the liberation of the country.


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