D-Day hero's final wish

Normandy veteran Don, 100, fulfils his ambition to be presented with France's coveted Legion d'honneur 81 years on

- By Tom Bevan

ONE of the last living D-Day heroes has finally been awarded a medal for his bravery more than 80 years on in a poignant moment that marked the fulfilment of a long-held dream.

Royal Marine Donald Butt was part of the landing crew in the first wave at Normandy’s Juno Beach on June 6, 1944.

His officers told him he was too young to disembark fully on to the beach — Don had just turned 18 — and so he always thought his age disqualified him from receiving the French Legion d’honneur.

Now 100, and eight decades after he lived through the horrors of D-Day, the war veteran has at long last been awarded the medal as recognition of his role in the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Normandy.

In an emotional meeting on Saturday, the great-great-grandfather was handed the insignia by other marines.

Daughter Karen Cetin, 60, said: “The medal means everything to Dad and he always said it was something he would love to have.

“We were in a bit of a race against time. He is 100 and it was very important to him — and to us — that he was recognised before it was too late.

“As a family we are all so proud of his achievements and think he fully deserves it.”

Don signed up to the Royal Marines when he was 17 and was sent to Normandy the next year.