Local veterans Peter Davies, Peter Harness and Doris Jenkins, the wife of Jim Jenkins, were guests of honour at the annual Violette Szabo Memorial on Sunday. The day would have been Violette’s 95th birthday if she had not been executed at a concentration camp for her work as a British SOE agent in World War II.

The three veterans, who are all members of the St Weonard’s and District branch of the Royal British Legion were presented with their Legion d’Honneur Medals by Mme Josette Lebrat, the French Honorary Consul for Bristol and South West England.

Bea Morris, of the St Weonard’s branch introduced the presentation by saying a few words about the part they had each played in the D Day Landings.

She said Peter Davies, who is the branch chairman, had landed on Sword Beach and had later met members of the French resistance. It was possible that he met friends of Violette. Peter Harness had joined the Merchant Navy as a 16-year-old and on D Day made 14 trips across the Channel.

Jim Jenkins joined the Light Infantry but later moved to the Service Corp, after time in Egypt and Greece he returned to the UK in time to train for D Day.

Mr Jenkins has not been well recently so his wife Doris attended in his place and received his medal, to pass onto him.

Mme Lebrat told the men that her country is still very grateful for everything they had done on D Day and to help France during the war. She said: “What a great example you represent for young people. You are heroes of the Second World War and we will always remember you, and your friends who could not make it back.

“We honour their sacrifice and courage, and it is thanks to you, my parents and others gained their freedom.”

Mr Davies presented Mme Lebrat with some flowers and said: “It was a long time ago but the memories are still fresh.”

During the Violette Memorial the Ladies of the Monday Choir of Clifford sang a medley of songs from war time including You are my sunshine, which was a little ironic as the rain was falling quite heavily through much of the afternoon. But with great stoicism the standard bearers stayed on parade in the open air until the ceremony concluded with the National Anthem.

The standard bearers included a member of FANY. She presented a small posy of poppies to Rosemary. A member of the Royal Marines paid his respects to Violette and presented a bottle to be auctioned to raised funds for the museum.

Major Fred Greenhow MBE, gave a short history of the Royal Artillery which Violette served with. He said he was keen not to glorify war but to point out the huge costs, he referred to the Somme where thousands of soldiers lost their lives but also to the many civilian casualties, he said thousands of dogs and horses died and even the landscape changed.

The Major then unveiled a plaque commemorating Rosemary’s father, Frederick John Rigby’s own service. He was fighting with the Royal Horse Artillery in World War I. He is buried in Northamptonshire where he died at the age of 62 as a result of the poisoned gas he was exposed to.

Virginia McKenna OBE and Violette’s daughter, Tania read the poem the Life that I have. Virginia said how pleased she is that Violette’s medals have been bought and put on show at the Imperial War Museum for everyone to see.

She said Tania had taken care of them since she was a child but had to sell them due to personal circumstances. She reminded everyone that there are replicas to see locally in the Wormelow museum but now more people will be able to see them.

The Reverend Mark Johnson, who led the service, said that it was strange to be taking part in such an occasion just days after the EU referendum decision. He said: “I hope we continue to work together with our friends across the channel.”

The Countess of Wessex string quartet played during tea when thankfully the rain stopped for a while.