Ferndown Rotary Club is delighted to report that long-standing member and past-president Alan Dean has been appointed by the President of France to the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur.
The award, notified by the French Ambassador in London, acknowledges Alan’s military engagement and steadfast involvement in the liberation of France during 1944/45. Alan, of the Parachute Regiment, operated in the areas of Holland and Germany and then went onto Singapore, Malaya and Java. He completed his military service in Palestine. He commented that he became a parachutist because the pay was more than that of an infantry soldier – namely one shilling (5p) a day more!
The Legion d’honneur was established by Napoleon in 1802 and is France’s highest decoration
Alan is also a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his community work in Wimborne, Ferndown, Devon and Dorset.
Our picture shows Alan with his new medal to the left of his others.
