A WAR hero from Hartford has been awarded the highest French honour possible for his bravery and courage during the D-Day Landings.

Second World War veteran Ernie Nelson has been presented with the French medal Rank of Chevalier (Knight) order legion d'honneur for his role in the events that liberated France and Europe in 1944.

The 91-year-old was a wireless telegraphist on HMS Scourge, which was part of the ill-fated 23rd Destroyer Flotilla thar spearheaded the D-Day Landings of June 5 and 6, 1944, and lost two of seven ships.

HMS Scourge played a key role in the landings, including protecting minesweepers to cut passageways through the German minefields, bombarding Sword Beach, including Ouistreham, and bombarding Omaha Beach with HMS Saumarez to support American troops.

This allowed the Americans to escape the beach and head to the top of the bluffs.

HMS Scourge also bombarded Gold beach and came under air attack from two separate German Junkers 88 dive-bombers.

Last year Ernie, who lives in Hartford with his wife Constance, also received the highest Russian honour, the Ushakov Medal, for his bravery and courage on the Russian Arctic Convoys.

He completed 12 Russian Arctic convoys in two years.

Winston Churchill described the Russian Arctic Convoys as 'the worst journey in the world'.

The convoys were known at the time as suicide runs, suffering German submarine and air attacks in sub-zero temperatures to provide supplies to Russia.

When he accepted the legion d'honneur from French Consul Mme Aude Auclair Ernie paid tribute to the crew of HMS Scourge.

"It is through their bravery and great skill in action that I have been awarded these medals and I will never forget them," he said.

Ernie went on to serve nearly 12 years in the Royal Navy and saw action all over the world.

He was also awarded a personalised Palestine War silver medal.