A WAR veteran has been honoured for his role in the D-Day landings.

Robert Craddock, of Crook, County Durham, volunteered at the age of 19 to join the Marines during the Second World War.

He trained as a marksman, then became a signalman in combined operations on HMS Arquebus, based at Plymouth.

He played a vital role in the D-Day landings – the invasion of mainland Europe on June 6, 1944 – as his ship transported Allied soldiers from England to the French coast.

He said: “We just went back and forth from Southampton to Normandy.

There were nine landing craft on each side of the ship and we had to fill them up with soldiers then zig-zag in and out of posts in the sea with bombs on top to take them to shore.

“We made one trip with the British, then five with Americans.

“At the time, we did not realise how significant it was, we just automatically followed orders.”

Mr Craddock, 85, was invited to Normandy to celebrate the 65th anniversary of D-Day, but was not well enough to travel.

The people of Normandy and the Normandie Memoire Association honoured those veterans who could attend with a commemorative bar to thank them.

Mr Craddock’s daughter, Jeanette Winn, asked North Durham MP Hilary Armstrong to ensure her father’s contribution did not go unrecognised, and Ms Armstrong secured the bar for him.

On Saturday, she visited his home in Morson Avenue, Crook, to present the award. She said: “It is particularly important at this time of year to remember the sacrifices people like Mr Craddock make.

“We owe an enormous amount to people like Mr Craddock, who was prepared to leave his home and family to serve their country.”

After the war, Mr Craddock returned to Crook, where he worked for more than 40 years as a mechanical engineer at Pickford and Holland brickworks.

He has been married to Jean for 57 years and has two children.

He said: “I am very proud of the medal. I have had good times and bad, but in some sense enjoyed and am proud to have been part of the war effort."