Two RAF Cosford volunteers awarded France's highest military honour

Leading Aircraft Woman Rose Davies and Lance Bombardier Arthur Jones were guests of honour at a drinks reception hosted by the RAF Museum American Foundation.

The awardees attended the reception held at the RAF Club in London, also attended by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, along with RAF Museum Trustees, CEO Maggie Appleton and other distinguished guests.

Following a welcome from Major General Frederick Roggero USAF (ret'd), President RAF Museum American Foundation and a message of thanks from Colonel Murand, Air Attaché French Embassy, museum volunteers Rose and Arthur along with former Battle of Britain Pilot Wing Commander Tom Neil, were presented with their medals.

The prestigious Legion d'honneur is awarded to D-Day veterans by the French government as a way of thanking those who fought and risked their lives for France's liberation.

Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Legion d'honneur is France's highest distinction, awarded in recognition for both military and civilian merit.

Very few British nationals have received the award since the French President announced in June 2014 that all British veterans who took part in military operations in France between 1944 and 1945 would be awarded.

Rose Davies first volunteered at Cosford for the International Women's Day event held in 2015 where she gave a talk, inspiring the next generation of women about future careers in the RAF, and spoke about her time in service as a Radar Operator.

Arthur Jones has been a regular volunteer at Cosford for many years, volunteering in a variety of roles including working with school groups and giving talks at special events.

He is also a regular in the museum's Visitor Centre each Tuesday, where he shares his experiences with visitors.

He said: "I walked out of my house at the age of 18 and my mum and my family never saw me until 18 months later, I had no leave at all.

"I was part of the Normandy Landings and landed on Gold Beach, but I was lucky because I didn't go in until later and missed the first wave.

"By the time the war ended I had crossed France, Belgium and Holland."

He initially served with the 8th Armoured regiment and then the 7th Armoured regiment

While serving in France, Mr Jones actually became detached from his crew and was cared for by a French woman called Marie and her family for three weeks until he could be reunited with his regiment.

He said: "I searched for the family for 52 years and I eventually found Marie who is 94 now and we talk on Skype. I have been to see her four times and she has been here once." After leaving the army, Mr Jones worked as a motor engineer, looking after cars, using his army training and passion for the work.

He has been volunteering at RAF Cosford for the past 20 years.

Mr Jones said: "I started off working on the exhibits then I began working with the educational department.

"I go into schools and talk about my experiences and they love being able to talk to people who were actually there.

"I go to the museum every Tuesday and I also do a lot of the reenactment, this weekend we've got a 1940s weekend at the Black Country Museum.

"I enjoy it because I feel like I am one of the lucky ones because I came back. When people come to me and congratulate me on what we did, they are congratulating the lads who didn't come back, they are still 18 or 19 and never came home.

"I am representing them more than myself and people should remember them."

The RAF Museum has congratulated both on receiving their honours.