A PEEBLES veteran has finally been awarded France’s highest military award.

John McOwan has received the Légion d’Honneur for helping to secure the country's liberation during the Second World War.

The 101-year-old told us: “I felt really emotional when the medal arrived just before Christmas.

"It’s been a long time coming but it was worth the wait.

"The medal is awarded to all veterans who took part in the D-Day Landings in Normandy.

"The British Legion put forward my name and the presentation was due to take place at the French Consulate in London in 2007, but I was unable to attend as I’d developed cancer.

"A subsequent application to the French Embassy in London was mislaid. Further representation was made from the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Scottish Government and Baroness Goldie of the House of Lords, and it finally arrived it was a much appreciated Christmas present.”

Born and bred in Peebles, John had planned to study to be an optician.

But instead he joined the Royal Artillery in 1939, at the age of 18, after a spell in the Territorial Army.

He was initially dispatched to Inchmickery island as part of the coastal defence to help prevent U boats from attacking the Forth Bridge.

However, skills picked up from his father, who was a jeweller, saw him transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Then, in 1940, he was posted to the Middle East where he served in the famous 7th Armoured Division as a ‘desert rat’ for the duration of that campaign.

John also took part in the allied landings at Salerno, in Italy, and in June 1944, he was involved in the Normandy landings – continuing through to victory in Berlin.

In 1946 he was discharged from the British Army as a sergeant.

And after the war, John returned to Peebles where, along with his brother Kenneth, he took over the family business in the High Street.

He married Betty Reid, who was also from the town, and the couple had one daughter, Eleanor.

He is now the proud grandfather of his "three stars" – Esther, Astrid and Stella – and great grandfather of Josh, Findlay, Rory and Amber.

John retired from the jewellers shop in 1990 after 43 years, but Betty sadly died in 2000.

The veteran then volunteered to work at the Sense Charity shop in Peebles and was recognised for 10 years of service.

Along with his medal John was given high praise in a letter from French ambassador Helen Treheux-Duchene.

It read: "The President of the Republic has appointed you to the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre National de le Légion d’honneur.

"We must never forget the heroes like you who came from Britain and the Commonwealth to begin the liberation of Europe by liberating France. We owe our freedom and security to your dedication because you were ready to risk your life.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, John, who is an accomplished painter and keen fisherman, decided to write a book entitled A Centenarian’s Memories of World War 2, helping raise money for the Peebles Food Foundation and the Blind Veterans Association.

And he is planning another on the shops and shopkeepers of old Peebles.

When asked his secret, John replied: “Basically, luck; having the right genes; and being lucky enough to never having been in the wrong place at the wrong time.”