The status below, I was free to lift this from the official site for the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

The Legion of Honor is...

1. What is it?
The Legion of Honor is the highest French decoration and one of the most famous in the world. For two centuries, it has been presented on behalf of the Head of State to reward the most deserving citizens in all fields of activity.

2. What is its purpose?
As an honor, the Legion of Honor does not include any actual material or financial benefit. However, it is an invaluable source of pride for the recipients and their families and an example of civic service made public.

4. How many have received it?
The Legion of Honor has 92,000 members. Every year some 3,000 people are inducted, one-third in a military capacity, two-thirds as civilians.
Some 400 foreigners are awarded this honor every year but, unlike French nationals, they are not members of the Legion of Honor.

I would like to nominate, Donald Somerville a Liberation of France Veteran, for the Legion of Honour. Despite our nearly 60 years of age difference, Donald has become a very near and dear friend to me. I have had the privilege of spending quite a lot of time with him and he has taken the time to share with me his stories of heroics, fear and sheer luck. I will share some of those stories with you today.

Sapper Donald Taylor Somerville crossed the Atlantic in the summer of 1941. He was an enthusiastic, adventure seeking 18 year old boy, and over the next five years he would live a lifetime of experiences.

Sapper Somerville arrived in England in July of 1941. Despite indications that he would be utilized in the Italian Campaign in 1943, England is where he would remain for the next three years doing “civilian like” work. In May of 1944 he was reassigned to the 23rd Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. The 23rd had been trained together for the past 2 years, so Donald did his best to get up to speed with the others. He knew the invasion of France would be coming soon, and the 23rd would be playing a large and crucial role.

On July 11th, 1944 Donald disembarked the Liberty Ship, M.S. Lee Overman, on the shores of Juno Beach, France. He was not overly afraid of what might greet him in Normandy, but instead, very curious. The beach was jammed with offloading ships, the water still full of debris and an occasional corpse from the events that had taken place in June. At first, significant destruction in their sector was not apparent, but that changed as the company moved into the outskirts of Caen near Cairon. Donald tells me one thing that always sticks in his mind is walking through a field that first day and coming across the body of a paratrooper. The soldiers parachute had failed to open, and he lay 4 inches completely embedded in the ground.

Not wasting anytime, Donald and the rest of the 23rd, got to work. Their first order of business was to clear a roadway for the Allies through the city of Caen. As the city was still hotly contested they were always under fire from the surrounding Germans as well as having to be aware of the dangers from the air. Main responsibilities consisted of mine clearance, filling potholes, bulldozing, and demolition work. The 23rd created the well-known roadway “Andy’s Alley”. After clearing this path, they successfully built “Reynold’s Bridge” across the Orne River. The bridge was named after George Reynold’s, a member of the company who was killed just prior to its construction by shrapnel from an exploding PIAT bomb. During the bridges construction Donald received his first war injury, getting knocked out by a jack handle that slipped and hit him squarely under the chin! The bridge opened to traffic on July 25th.

The company continued dirty and grueling road work through the scalding temperatures that summer. On the 17th of August, in the Bourgebus-Vimont-St. Aignan de Cramesnil area beyond Caen, the lorry in which Sapper Somerville was riding in struck a teller mine and left him with a perforated ear drum. The hearing damage still bothers him to this day, but the comical memory of the spare tire taking off like a rocket ship sticks quite clearly in his mind.

Working in shifts, the 23rd kept on with their road construction work until the 27th of August. They received word that they would be transferred to the command of 2nd Corps. Their new mission, to do an assault crossing of the Seine River near Pont De L’Arche with the 4th Armoured Division. Donald and his company had been trained extensively back in England on British “Storm Boats”. A single boat, powered by a 50HP evinrude engine was capable of transporting up to 18 troops, or a jeep, or a 6lb antitank gun. The assault crossing was successful and the company experienced only occasional shell and mortar fire. The 23rd were to suffer only two minor injuries.

From there, the 23rd Field Company continued to ferry across allied forces until the 31st of August. Their next task was to build a bridge across the Seine River in their area. Amazingly, it was completed in less than 24 hours! The Germans were on the run, and there were hopes the war would be over by Christmas.

Until the 31st of August, the 23rd Field Company were crossing the river with reinforcements to built up the bridgehead on the north-eastern shore of the Seine river. After this task was done, the men began building a bridge across the Seine, which they completed within 24 hours.

Donald went on with the 23rd into Belgium and Holland. The 23rd would also play the major role in "Operation Berlin" (The evacuation of the depleted British 1st Airborne across the Neder Rijn). Donald finished the war with the 20th Field Company, after an injury in Holland transferred him under their command.

Donald Somerville is worthy of the Legion of Honour. Members of the Royal Canadian Engineers were there on D-Day, right through to the total Liberation of France. He, like most, believe that he was just doing his duty. I believe that the companies total dedication played a crucial role in expediting France’s liberation. Now, Donald plays a crucial role in Canadians remembering and recognizing what our military has done, and still does, to protect our freedom.

Please Consider Donald Taylor Somerville for The Legion of Honour.

Sincerely,
Ryan Barr

By order of the President of the Republic of France, you have been awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion Honour as of August 18th, 2014. Please accept my sincere congratulations in this regard.

This distinction illustrates the profound gratitude that France would like to express to you. It is awarded in recognition of your professional involvement in the liberation of our country. Through you, France remembers the sacrifice of all your compatriots who came to liberate French soil, often losing their lives in the process.

As regarded by the Canadian regulations regarding the decoration of Canadian citizens by foreign states, I contacted the Canadian government to set in motion the process of having this decoration officially approved. This process came to a fruitful conclusion.

With regard to how you wish to receive your decoration, please find attached a response form outlining two options: your decoration may be sent to you by mail, or you may receive your decoration at a ceremony at a later date to be determined. Please make your selection and return the form to the Embassy. The Honours and Distinctions Service of the Embassy will naturally remain at your service for any requests for information regarding your dossier.

Please allow me to express once more France’s respect for your contribution to the combat that led to the liberation of my country.

Yours sincerely Phillipe Zeller
Ambassador of France to Canada

On Monday, April 20, 2015 Donald Somerville, and four other candidates came to the French Embassy, to receive out of the hands of Phillipe Zeller, Ambassador of France to Canada, the French National Order of the Legion Honour. One of the veterans came on behalf of his wife, who was granted the Legion Honour, but she passed away some time before the ceremony was held. It was a warm and emotional ceremony all around.

Along with a number of friends and family, Donald was also represented by a Lt.Col Paul Fredenburg of the Canadian Engineers, as well as Sgt Ripley and Spr McCambridge, the latter 2 are from the 23rd Field Squadron (named after the 23rd Field Company). The French contingent put on a very nice ceremony and it was truly fitting to what these Canadian Veterans deserved.