A GENTLEMAN from Poughill has been awarded France’s highest decorated medal, giving recognition of his acts of bravery and service during the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.

Ninety-two-year-old Alan Crews has been awarded the Chevalier de l’Order National de la Legion d’Honneur by the French government.

The award has recognised the selfless acts of heroism and bravery by all surviving veterans of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944, as well as other wider campaigns to liberate France during this time.

Mr Crews was born in Plymouth on February 13, 1924, and met his future wife, Margaret, shortly before the Second World War began.

Mr Crews served in the forward Observation Post, 55th Field Regiment Royal Artillery, in support of the Guards Armoured Division during the liberation of France in the Second World War.

After landing in Normandy, he saw action at the Carpiquet airfield area, west of Caen, followed by the thrust south east of Caen, known as the Battle of Falaise Gap.

The division then went on to support the advance south, before sweeping around and making a fighting dash north, crossing the River Seine, before liberating Arras and Douai.

The 55th was the first field regiment to break out of France and reach Tournai and Brussels in Belgium.

Mr Crews came home after the conclusion of the Second World War and married Margaret, joining the Plymouth City Police afterwards.

He spent family holidays at Stibb, where his parents lived, and on several occasions here, he saved people from drowning on Sandymouth beach.

This earned him the Royal Humane Society Honorary Testimonial on Vellum.

On taking his retirement from the police, Mr Crews moved to Stibb with Margaret and set up a market garden business.

Later, he retired completely and moved to Bude.

His daughter, Sue Trewin, said of her father’s achievement: “He has always been a hard working, kind, considerate man, conscientious and fair in all his dealings with family, friends, strangers and at work.

“He’s always the first to offer help in any situation. His family is so proud of him receiving his medal, and for all he has done throughout his life.”