Morecambe D-Day hero presented with top medal for his part in Dutch liberation in World War Two

Jack Bracewell was invited to have a special presentation of the Dutch Liberation Medal, known as the 'Thank You Liberators' medal.

And last Monday Captain RNLN Gerit Nijenhuis, Defence and Naval Attache, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, visited Jack and his family at his Morecambe home to conduct a small ceremony and presentation.

This token of appreciation is given by the Dutch people in sincere gratitude of services during World War Two.

The ‘Thank You Liberators’ medal is an initiative by the Dutch National Committee (Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei) which helps determine how meaning is given to commemorating and celebrating and to how the memory of World War Two is kept alive.

The British, American, Canadian and Polish armies have had a special relationship with the Dutch. Since 1946, the Netherlands has welcomed them back for various commemorations of World War Two events.

Jack, now 98, was a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps when he landed at Gold Beach on D-Day on June 6 1944.

He and his troop later moved through France to the Netherlands and on to Germany at the end of the war, where he was demobbed in October 1946.

He said: "I remember entering Holland and the streets being packed with people cheering and celebrating. They were giving us wine, chocolate and flowers and cheering.

"We did a lot of celebrating and downed a few beers. I met a family with a little girl called Tooja Coombs, she gave me pannenkoeken, a kind of apple tart, it was delicious.

"We were in Holland for a while before moving on. The people were lovely."

In 2017 Jack was also presented with the Legion d’Honneur medal – the highest possible French honour, which is given to all D-Day veterans.