Shipston World War Two hero receives high honour

Local World War Two veteran, Eric Whitehead, has been appointed Chevalier[nbsp]in the[nbsp]Ordre Nationale de la Legion d’Honneur in recognition of his contribution and steadfast involvement in the Liberation of France during the Second World War.

Eric (pictured in his WW2 uniform) served in the Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy throughout WW2. Eric’s main role early in the war was protecting coastal convoys from attacks by German boats in the English Channel and North Sea. During the Normandy invasion in June 1944 and thereafter, Coastal Forces carried out navigational duties including escorting convoys to and from the beaches. At this time Eric was commanding Motor Launch 593 of the 32nd Motor Launch Flotilla, playing a direct role in the liberation of France.[nbsp]

Between Dunkirk and VE Day, Coastal Forces fought over 780 actions, sinking 800 enemy vessels. In 1944, operating from Norway to the Aegean,[nbsp]there were some 3,000 officers and 22,000 ratings serving in Coastal Forces. That 2,300 were killed shows the hazardous nature of the operations they found themselves undertaking.[nbsp]

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