Dennis George Lanham – Légion d’Honneur
Dennis George Lanham was born in Bathford and was called up in December 1943 aged 19. After being sent to Fleetwood for basic training and passing various exams was assigned to the 79th Armoured Division as Senior Mechanic. He was sent to Normandy in August 1944 to Juno Beach where he was tasked with maintaining Churchill Tanks and later converting some into flame throwers, known as Crocodiles. His division wore the Bull’s Head badge and Adolf Hitler ordered that anyone seen wearing this badge should be shot on sight. Dennis was awarded the Legion d’Honneur for his service.
Please click the link below to take you to the BBC news website following Dennis’s passing aged 100 – it has lovely pictures and narrative.
BBC news site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clkk0md4d4ko
