D-Day veterans blast French over delay of long-promised World War Two medals
D-DAY heroes have taken aim at France for making them wait years for their long-promised World War Two medals.
One veteran died aged 104 still waiting for his gong.
Another 15 applications are stuck in the French system, The Sun can reveal.
Seven of the claims date so far back that UK officials have lost track of when they were first made.
And the most recent British recipient of the award had to wait more than a year.
All surviving applicants are now about 100.
Former flight sergeant John Haddock, 102, said: “If the veterans on D-Day had taken all this time, then France may never have been liberated at all.
“I don’t want to be rude but it’s an extremely discourteous way to treat those you describe as liberators of your country.”
The RAF hero applied for the medal last year, but heard nothing until The Sun intervened on his behalf in October.
He received a call the same day that the medal had been approved.
But it arrived in the post only a few days ago, more than 12 months after he applied.
John has now urged authorities in Paris to hurry up before his last few comrades die.
He continued: “It is nice to have the recognition but I don’t understand the delay.
“If they wait much longer they won’t need to bother. The medals are not awarded posthumously.”
France announced the gong in 2014 for the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
Applications are made through the Ministry of Defence, which verifies the claims.
The MoD said: “We are working in consultation with French officials with regards to the 15 outstanding cases.”