The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Honorary French consul Robert Mille made the award at a special gathering at Spalding Golf Club, which included The Parachute Regiment’s assistant regimental secretary Major Adam Jowett (Retd), members of The Rifles and South Holland District Council chairman Coun Michael Seymour.
Major David Allmand (Retd) told the ceremony: “You will be aware that this is quite an occasion for the Spalding branch, not only because of our distinguished guests but also that we have Mt Tony Blackman who is the recipient of this medal.”
Tony and wife Rita, with Major Adam Jowett (Retd), representing The Parachute Regiment.
Mr Blackman was just 18 years old when he took part in Operation Overlord.
As a member of the 12th (Airborne) Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, he landed on Sword Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Tony told The Voice: “We should have gone in by glider, but unfortunately they had ran out of gliders!
“We went in by sea. We were ten hours in a flat-bottomed boat and, to be honest, by the time we got there we couldn’t have cared less!”
The objective was to relieve Caen.
Tony fought in actions in the area of Le Bas De Ranville and helped to repel the German counter-attack prior to the allied breakout.
He took part on the assault on Branville and on June 22, C company took the village.
However, three days later Tony was wounded by shrapnel.
He said: “I was in a slit trench when a 3in mortar hit the top of the trees and I was underneath it.”
He was flown back to the UK with a leg injury and was in hospital for several months. He was unable to rejoin his battalion.
Seventy three years on, Tony said he was delighted and honoured with his award.
