A WAR hero who was one of the first soldiers to reach the beaches during the Normandy Landings has been awarded a medal for his bravery.

Harold Lynch, of Gilbert Court, Culcheth, has been presented with The Légion d’Honneur – the highest French order for military and civil merits.

The 92-year-old former coalminer, who moved to Culcheth in the 1960s, joined the army in 1942 and served in The Royal Westminster Dragoons.

Two years later, Harold was shipped to Normandy during the Second World War as part of the first wave of soldiers to be deployed to the coast on June 6, 1944.

His daughter Jenny Hainsworth, who nominated her father for the award for gallantry, said: “He was one of the brave men who were the first on the beaches.

“They were cannon fodder in a way.

“When they got to the top of the beach they had to wait for orders as they had not been given any.

“That’s because they were not expecting them to survive.

"There were five of them shut up in the tank and they were sealed in.

“This was in case of sea water seepage and given a hammer to free themselves when on dry land. It sounds horrendous."

While the dad-of-three, who has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, tries not think about the harrowing sights he saw during his years of service, he said he was proud to receive the award in recognition of his efforts.

His daughter Jenny added: “I am proud – always have been.”

Harold, who was born in Leigh, served in the army for three years but, during his stint in the armed forces, he still found the time to marry the love of his life, Joan.

Luck was on Harold’s side when he was given the opportunity to return home for three weeks in January 1945.

Harold, who was 21 at the time, immediately knew that this was the moment he had been waiting for.

Jenny added: “He told my mum he was coming home and told her to get ready because they were getting married.

“It all happened very quickly”.

Harold and Joan, who was 18 at the time, were married on January 10, 1945, and celebrated their 70th anniversary last year shortly before her death.