UNITY — Second World War veteran Bill Fleming of Unity was presented with the French Legion of Honour by the Saskatchewan Honorary Consul for the Republic of France June 6.
The Legion of Honour ceremony, held at Parkview Place, a seniors’ residence in Unity, was open to the public and a number of guests were in attendance, including members of Fleming’s family who travelled from out of province for the special presentation.
Honorary Consul Vincent Martin explained that, to celebrate last year’s 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the French government had “decided to present awards to all of the living Canadian veterans who participated in D-Day operations,” to celebrate last year's 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The award chosen was the Legion d’Honneur — the highest award possible for France to give, equivalent to our Order of Canada.
William George “Bill” Fleming landed on Juno Beach June 6, 1944 with Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France.
Addressing Fleming directly, Martin said, “As a young man, Mr. Fleming, you left your family and your home to cross the Atlantic and participate to one of the fiercest battles in modern history, on a foreign soil, far away from your country ... Our two countries owe each other their very existence as free nations and this indeed creates a special relationship.
“The French people will never forget the act of bravery accomplished (by) Canadian soldiers … There is no winner in war, but sometimes fighting is necessary and you personify the great Canadian spirit to defend freedom. Your story is a bright example for all generations.”
Martin also said, “Freedom is more important than life. Many people made the ultimate sacrifice to allow others to remain free and unchained. This is the sacrifice that more than 45,000 Canadians made during the Second World War. The D-Day was this very first step that enabled liberty, justice and human dignity to break through.
“Canadian soldiers were on the front line, and it is with extraordinary bravery and sacrifice that they landed on Normandy beaches.”
Martin concluded his speech by saying, “So thank you so much, Mr. Fleming, for fighting at our side for freedom and democracy. Thank you for making France a free country, and thank you for making my family a happy, living family.
“I congratulate you warmly, with my deepest respect! Thank you so much.”
Martin then pinned the Legion of Honour decoration onto the already heavily decorated Royal Canadian Legion uniform Fleming wore for the occasion.
Fleming’s son, Harold, who lives in Ontario, read the citation thay outlined his father’s accomplishments. Born in Plunkett, Nov. 30, 1916, Bill enlisted in the Canadian army in 1941, joining the London, Ont. regiment, the First Hussars. He trained as a heavy transport driver and went ashore on Juno Beach with the Allied Forces on D-Day. Despite the loss of his brother June 7 in a “friendly fire” incident, “Bill soldiered on, serving with the First Hussars through Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands, ‘right up to the German border.’”
After the war, Bill and his wife Nellie bought a farm of their own near Swarthmore. Harold was their only child. Later the couple moved into Unity where Bill was eventually honoured with life memberships in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 90 and the Unity and District Heritage Museum for his many years of hard work in both organizations. In 2012, Bill received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his community service.
The citation concluded, “This brave, tough old soldier has served well both in war and in peace.”
Earlier Martin explained the French Legion d’Honneur was created “in 1802, during the reign of Napoleon.” Previous Canadian recipients include former Governor General Michaelle Jean, former Quebec premier Jean Charest, former prime minister William McKenzie King; Percy W. Nelles, admiral and chief of the naval staff during the Second World War; Rear Admiral Leonard Murray, commander-in-chief of Canadian Northwest Atlantic and architect of the Battle of the Atlantic; and Rear Admiral Desmond Piers, former commanding officer of HMCS Algonquin.
Unity Legion members took advantage of the occasion to also give Fleming his 90th Royal Canadian Legion Anniversary Commemorative Medal. Secretary Theresa Keller presented Fleming with that medal.
George Ward, padre of the Unity branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, was MC. The Wards and Flemings were neighbours in Unity for eight years.
After both presentations had been made, the speeches concluded and God Save the Queen sung by those in attendance, many took the time to individually extend their congratulations to Fleming. Cake, coffee and socializing wound up the event.
