A Second World War veteran received a hero’s welcome at his Royal British Legion (RBL) branch.

Ernie Treagus, 94, was a recent recipient of the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest honour, for his actions on D-Day, when he piloted a landing craft to deploy troops to Sword Beach.

He also delivered further troops and tanks to all the Normandy landing beaches in the weeks that followed.

The medal was sent to his Greenhithe home by the French ambassador, and Mr Treagus proudly showed it off during a visit to the Greenhithe and Swanscome RBL branch.

Alan Nimmo, the branch chairman, said: “Ernie always makes an appearance when there’s something going on at the club.

“He lives quite locally so he tries to come round. There’s a couple of members that go round and check on him and bring him here.

“Ernie lives just around the corner from our branch, and we are tremendously proud that he still pops in for a beer and a chat.

“I think the reaction surprised him – he got a standing ovation.”

Branch secretary Gill North also paid tribute to Ernie.

“Ernie lives just around the corner from our branch, and we are tremendously proud that he still pops in for a beer and a chat.

“He has already presented us with a document mapping all the landing points on D-Day, which we have framed: it has pride of place in the club.

“It was great to see his well deserved medal and for the club members to have the opportunity to give a standing ovation to this real Greenhithe hero.”

Along with other D-Day veterans, Ernie had also been invited to attend an official ceremony in the French Embassy, but Ms North said he did not want to make a fuss.