Local 100 Year Old Veteran Named Knight Of The Legion Of Honour For France To Recognize His Role In The Liberation Of France During WWII
/Pte. (Ret’d) Sir Frederick Herbert Allison of Lakefield is now officially a Knight of The Legion of Honour for France, in recognition of his participation in the liberation of France after D-Day.
Allison, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, was a Motor Mechanic with the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers during World War Two.
Allison spent his time overseas repairing vehicles and on more than one occasion found himself in situations he only describes as miracles.
“The sound of a bullet whizzing by your ear just makes you think - if I were a few inches this way or that I wouldn’t be here.”
WWII officially ended on Sept. 2, 1945, but because Allison was a mechanic he stayed in Amsterdam repairing vehicles and was discharged on Jan. 1, 1946.
Now, 76 years later, he is being honored by France for his participation in liberating their country from Nazi occupation.
Allison’s grandson, James, says he learned about this award after Remembrance Day last year and began communicating with the French Consulate in hopes to have his grandfathers efforts officially recognized.
After many phone calls and lots of patience, Allison received his medal and a Presidential Decree from President Macron of France on July 11.
On Tuesday, Allison’s family members and Dave Smith, MPP, gathered at Peterborough’s cenotaph to recognize his service on behalf of the Province.
@ptbo_canada Replying to @ptbo_canada Over 75 years after he came home from Europe, Sir Frederick H. Allison is Knighted to The Legion of Honour, a very well deserved honour. He says the thought of being a ‘Sir’ is ‘beyond my old brain’ 🇨🇦#Veteran #ww2 #PTBOCanada #LegionOfHonour #canadianveterans #CanadianVet #CanadianLegion #CanadianMilitary #Knighted #Mechanic #Canada ♬ Memories (Piano Instrumental) - Benny Martin
