A WAR hero who once saved a stranded, wounded comrade in the Normandy in the Second World War has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur, the highest award France can offer.

Francis Holland, 94, was sent the medal to his home at Highfield Care Home in Yarm, received the award for his part in liberating France from German occupation in the Second World War.

His proud son, Nick, explained that his father grabbed his wounded comrade at Colombelles in Normandy as bombs fell around around them and flagged down a motorbike messenger who drove him from the shelling.

Mr Holland said his father, who grew up in west Newcastle, fought in North Africa, Italy, Belgium and German first as a private and then as a staff sergeant in the 51st Highland Division.

Nick Holland said: "Dad talked about the war but mainly the funny events that happened and there's too many to mention. My favourite was when having a meal with mates in an old barn in Normandy he went round the back for a call of nature only for a German machine gunner in a field to unload his magazine at him and miss. When he returned back to his mates they had already divided up his dinner thinking he was a gonna.

"One thing that stuck with him all through his life were the shells and he hoped the inventor of the moaning Minnie (shells which made a distincitve whining sound) is being bombed in hell by them for eternity."

Mr Holland said his father gained special permission to marry his sweetheart Mollie Spence, just before the invasion. He then didn't see his first child, Judith, for nearly two years.

After the war the couple had four more children and Mr Holland now has 14 grandchildren. He became a chartered accountant and finance director for a builder's merchant eventually moving to Yarm to be near his daughter.

At the age of 58 he started running and became famous on the circuit in the North-East for his fast times, for example running the Great North Run in one hour and 30 minutes at the age of 66. The veteran running champion also ran marathons in Moscow, Berlin, Venice and Dublin and ran thousands of miles with his Nick Holland in the Wallsend Harriers.

"My dad is an unassuming, kind family man with a wicked sense of humour," said Nick Holland.

Carolyn O’Lone, Highfield Care Home Manager, said: “It’s so wonderful that Francis has been recognised for his courage and bravery, we’re all so very proud of him.”