FORMER town serviceman Richard Packer has been invested as a Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur by Honorary French Consul Captain Francois Jean.

Also in attendance were the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson and Whitehill and Bordon mayor Colin Leach.

In June 2014, on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the French President Francois Hollande announced that the distinction would be awarded to all British veterans who fought for the liberation of France during the Second World War.

To be eligible, personnel must have taken part in military operations in the country between 1944 and 1945.

Richard, better known as Dick, enlisted in June 1938 and remained in the military after the war was over. By the time he was demobbed, in January 1974, he had served nearly 37 years. He volunteered to join the Royal Artillery, trained as a weapons artificer and was quickly promoted to Lance Bombardier.

During the Second World War he took part in several battles to free France, having landed on the beaches of Normandy five days after D-Day.

Dick described his wartime activity: “As part of 220Bty 112 Field Regiment RA we landed on Gold Beach five days after D-Day,” he said.

“Following preparations, as part of 43 Wessex Div, we took part in the 26 June attacks on Carpiquet Airfield and villages around Hill 112.

“These attacks were unsuccessful and, as we had suffered severe casualties, towards the end of June we were withdrawn.

“Our next action was the 10 July attack direct on Hill 112 supporting 5 Dorset Regt and 7 Hants.

“As an Artificer RA I had a motorbike for transport and during the advance on Hill 112 an explosion knocked me off and I was badly burned.

“After treatment at the regimental aid post, I was moved to the casualty clearing station then medically evacuated by aircraft back to the UK and hospitals in Lyneham and then the Derby Royal Infirmary to recover. My war was over.”

On recovery, his service continued. Dick was reassigned to 5 Field Regiment RA, returned to France, then Italy and into Germany. In July 1948, after Army reorganisation, he was transferred into the fledgling Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Thus began a long career as both a soldier and civilian with REME.

On completion of his REME artificer weapons course he was promoted to staff sergeant and posted into the field Army. He went on to serve in Palestine, in Italy with ‘L’ Nery Battery, in Gibraltar with responsibility for the gun defences, in the UK with 1 Coast Artillery Workshop and as an instructor on guns with 4 Battalion REME. Then began what Dick described as one of the highlights of his career.

He was promoted to WO1 (ASM) of 7 Armoured Workshop REME at BAOR in Fallingbostel, north Germany.

This was a highly prestigious appointment, sought after by his contemporaries. Following this, it was back to SEME, once more as an instructor in guns, and then his final posting - the Singapore Workshop REME.

This saw the end of his travels and he returned once more to Bordon where, on his discharge, he became a weapons instructor and spent the next 15 years teaching students in the town.

At the age of 93, Dick is a long time member of the Bordon Branch of the Royal British Legion and, along with his companion Meg, he is a regular at St Matthew’s Church in Blackmoor. He lives in Whitehill and Bordon and is well looked after by his sons John and Bill who visit him regularly.

Richard Packer is pictured with the The Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson, Commandant Francois Jean, Hampshire chairman of the British Legion Tim Russell, Whitehill and Bordon mayor Colin Leach and Richard’s sons John and Bill. Picture order no: BD50-201-17.