A D-Day veteran has been awarded France’s highest war honour.

Stanley Bond, who has lived in Gravesend all his life, proudly received the National Order of the Legion of Honour, in recognition of his military service in the liberation of France during the Second World War.

The French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sylvie Bermann, wrote personally to inform Stanley, 92, of the award and to send him the prestigious medal.

In a letter to Stanley, the ambassador wrote: “I offer you my warmest congratulations on this high honour in recognition of your acknowledged military engagement and your steadfast involvement in the Liberation of France during the Second World War.

“As we contemplate this Europe of peace, we must never forget the heroes like you, who came from Britain to the Commonwealth to begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France.

“We owe our freedom and security to your dedication, because you were ready to risk your life.”

Stanley, who lives with his son, attends the day centre at ellenor hospice in Gravesend where he has been proudly showing off his medal and letter.

Nurse Tricia Plumb said: “We are so proud of Stanley for being recognised in this way.

“At ellenor we care about life and making the most of every second, so it is such a privilege to be able share this special moment with Stanley and to have the time to sit and listen, which is so important and often the thing our patients need the most.”

In 2014, during a speech as part of the 70th anniversary commemorations of D-Day, the French president pledged to bestow all surviving British veterans with the National Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur).

Stanley told staff at the hospice there had been a delay in getting the award because more than 3,000 D-Day survivors were being honoured, far higher than the original estimate of 200 surviving veterans.

Some veterans received their awards from the French ambassador in April but given the large number of veterans and their advancing years, the French embassy said it would take two or three years to hand them out personally so it is now sending them by post.