A COUNTY war hero who turns 91 later this month has been presented with France’s top military honour.

George Brydon was presented with the Legion of Honour medal at Gilmerton House, near Athelstaneford, by Emmanuel Cocher, Consul General to France, last month.

Incredibly, it was only a matter of months ago that George’s family found out the true extent of what happened to him during the Second World War.

His son Angus was instrumental in his dad being awarded the medal.

Angus, who lives in Oban, said: “I did a lot of research and managed to apply for the medal.

“Initially, I knew he was eligible but you had to apply through the Ministry of Defence.

“I’ve known for years and years that he was in the war and went to fight in France in 1944.

“I was putting pieces together and getting information from my dad, and finding out where he was wounded was the big mystery all these years.”

George joined the 5th Battalion of the Black Watch when he was just a teenager and ended up heading to France soon after.

George, of Dunbar’s Bellevue Avenue, was seriously injured by mortar shrapnel in the back in Mauny, near the River Seine and Rouen, and was transferred back to Britain.

From there, he spent the best part of a year in hospital and underwent several operations.

Angus said: “He used to speak about the war when we were kids.

“I was born in 1958 and I have brothers and sisters, and he used to tell us stories.

“It was very sporadic stories and we could not piece it together.

“He is 91 later this month and his memory sometimes comes and goes.

“It is difficult to actually get the proper information.

“It was not until I started looking into and piecing together his memories – it was quite interesting.”

Only two other members of George’s battalion are still living and Angus was delighted to see the whole family come together for the presentation.

He added: “We decided to make it a family affair and it was a lovely setting.

“The family were there and there were 33 of us, including the Consul General of France and representatives from the Black Watch.”

After the war, George settled in Edinburgh and worked as a production manager at an ink manufacturer in the city.

Upon retiring, he moved, along with wife Elma, to Dunbar.

His wife added: “It is quite an honour but George is not one for talking about it.”