D-Day hero John Baker, 93, appeals for help to find treasured medal he lost on 75th anniversary
A D-DAY hero is appealing for help to find his medal lost at a 75th anniversary event.
John Baker, 93, was aboard HMS Belfast in London on June 6 for a Blind Veterans UK commemoration.
The ex-Royal Pioneer Corps private landed in Normandy in 1944, later helping to build a bridge over Germany’s Rhine.
Mr Baker said: "It was such a lovely day to visit HMS Belfast for the anniversary of D-Day but unfortunately for me it had a very unhappy ending.
“I was so proud to receive the Legion d’Honneur. I accepted it for all those who didn’t make it back.
“I’m due to visit the war graves in France next week and would be so proud to wear the medal again there.”
"I really hope someone has found it and it can be returned."
John was a caretaker in Gosport, Hants, until he was 64 and later lost his sight through macular degeneration.
Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin, chief executive of Blind Veterans UK, said: "John is a lovely man and has rightly been awarded the Legion d'Honneur for his part in the liberation of France.
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"As soon as we heard that the medal had gone missing we returned to the ship to search for it but, unfortunately, it wasn't found.
"There were thousands of people around HMS Belfast on Thursday so hopefully someone knows something or has even handed it in somewhere."
He added: "We hope that John's treasured medal can be found but we will ensure that a replacement medal is presented if not.
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