Hero Harry awarded France's top honour

THE presentation to Harry by MP Debbie Abrahams

AN Oldham great-great-grandfather has been honoured with the highest French order for his service during the Second World War.

Oldham-born Harry Gardiner who served on merchant ships in the navy received the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, or Legion of Honour, from the President of the Republic.

Established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion is awarded for military and civil conduct.

The 91-year-old resident of Springhill Court, Heywood Street, was appointed to the rank of Chevalier, or Knight, the first of five degrees in the order.

To mark the occasion, about 20 friends and family members attended a tea party on Tuesday, organised by Sheltered housing group Anchor.

A letter from Ambassade de France in response to Mr Gardiner's application said: "I offer you my warmest congratulations on this high honour in recognition of your acknowledged military engagement and your steadfast involvement in the Liberation of France during the Second World War.

"We owe our freedom and security to your dedication because you were ready to risk your life."

The associated silver medal is a five-armed Maltese asterisk engraved with the Legion's motto Honneur et Patrie, Honour and Fatherland.

Mr Gardiner, who served on 13 ships during the war, said: "I was thrilled to receive the medal.

"It is an honour.

"They awarded me this medal for being liable to lose my life for the liberation of France.

"I was in every war zone."

Between 1941 and 1945, Mr Gardiner visited more than 20 countries, including Mozambique, Algeria, Lybia, Egypt, Burma, Sri Lanka and Mumbai.

In March 1941 the then 15-year-old boy had walked along the Salford docks and visited every ship until he found work on The Old Tramp Steamer as a galley boy.

He said: "We sailed across the North Atlantic then on to Rosario, Argentina. In five years, I went from being a galley boy to an assistant cook, second cook, chef's cook and chief's cook.

"I started off cleaning, washing up, doing what I was told, and learnt as we went along.

"We made our own bread and there were crews of 30 to feed every day, with a crew of 90 at one time."

In April 1944, just before the D-Day landings, Mr Gardiner joined the Houston City and was anchored in Scottish waters.

He said: "There were dozens of ships waiting. We sailed down to Tilbury and discharged troops over the side and they climbed down rope nettings into smaller boats and went ashore to reinforce those fighting in-land.

"I remember a British cruiser blasting shells over the lines to Caen."

After the war, Mr Gardiner kept up his baking, opening a shop in Ripponden Road, and in 1946, married his late wife Alice, who he met aged four.

The father of five said: "We were childhood sweethearts. We sat next to each other right the way through school."

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary together shortly before Mrs Gardiner passed away in August 1996 from a brain tumour.

Mr Gardiner kept up his cooking when he moved to Springhill Court in 1999, serving potato pies and Christmas dinners to all of the residents.

The registered blind veteran who is fluent in French and Arabic is grandfather to 12, great-grandfather to six and great-great-grandfather to three.

Anchor scheme manager Victoria Ward said: "He is a lovely gentleman who still does his own cooking and cook's once a week for his grand-daughter.

"I see him every day but he is very independent. It is fantastic to recognise Harry's achievement."