A WIDOW has expressed her pride that her late husband has been awarded France’s Légion d’Honneur medal.

James Sullivan (known as Jim), who died in January this year, four days shy of his 90th birthday, was in the Merchant Navy, and was a member of the Launceston branch of the Royal British Legion.

He was awarded the rank of Chevalier in the Order National de la Légion d’Honneur by the President of the Republic of France.

His wife, Jan, told the Post: “He was on the boats taking troops backwards and forwards for the D-Day landings.

“He was 17 when he went into the Merchant Navy. He worked on tankers during the war.

“He would have been very proud to have received the medal. I’m proud that he got it.”

Mr Sullivan served on the Empire Duke and Empire Flint during 1944. In June 1949 he joined the Queen Mary until 1951.

He left the Merchant Navy to go into business with his brothers. He retired in 1992 and moved to Cornwall two years later.

Ms Sullivan received the Légion d’Honneur in the post last Wednesday (December 16). Their 29th wedding anniversary was on Sunday,