Michael d’Alton, aged 93, was bestowed the Legion d’Honneur on board the French ship ‘Somme’ at Dublin Port, for his merits and actions at Omaha beach during the Normandy landings.
D’Alton, a Dublin native born in 1921, was 23 when he joined the war as a sailor with the Royal Navy. On D-Day, he was tasked with bringing Sherman tanks ashore across to the American sector on Omaha Beach.
But rather than keeping the honour to himself, he selflessly dedicated the award to all his comrades who took part on Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings.
After Germany’s surrender, Mr. D’Alton returned to Ireland to live in Dalkey, and worked as a quantity surveyor.
The award to Mr d’Alton follows a similar act last December when the late Pat Gillen, from Cork, was also honoured with the Legion d’Honneur for his actions in the D-Day landings. Mr. Gillen fought with the Commando unit.
The Legion d’Honneur is France’s highest honour award, and was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Its motto is ‘Honour and Fatherland’.