French Legion of Honour ceremony aboard the Prairial in Napi

French Legion of Honour ceremony aboard the Prairial in Napier

Press release

Embassy of France in New Zealand

19 November 2015

On Friday the 20th of November, Ambassador of France to New Zealand Mrs Florence Jeanblanc-Risler will hold a Legion of Honour ceremony aboard the French naval frigate, the Prairial, in Napier. Ambassador Jeanblanc-Risler will present this medal, France’s highest honour, to Mr Maxwell Collett and to the families of the late Mr John Caulton and the late Mr Eric Brunton.

This ceremony, beginning at 6.30pm, will take place in the presence of friends and family of the Hawke’s Bay veterans, the Mayor of Napier Mr Bill Dalton, local MP Mr Stuart Nash, Prairial Commander Alexis Huberdeau and official representatives.

For his eminent merit in service to the nation, French President François Hollande has officially appointed as Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour:

Flying Officer Maxwell Amner Collett

Mr Maxwell Collett enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the fourth of April 1942. Six months later, he embarked for Canada to complete his training. He then travelled to the United Kingdom, arriving in May of 1943. Mr Collett was posted for operational service with 485 Squadron RAF from the 3rd of June 1944 until the 13th of July 1945. During this time he flew at least 74 sorties with this squadron with several which stand out in particular. On D-Day, Mr Collett was flying on offensive fighter sweeps above the invasion of the Normandy beaches. On December 26 of 1944 he, along with a fellow Flying officer, destroyed three midget submarines, believed to be the only midget submarines destroyed by Fighter Command.

Flight Lieutenant Eric Richard Brunton

Mr Eric Brunton enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 12th of September 1941. Having commenced training as a bomber pilot in New Zealand, he travelled to Canada in May of the following year to continue his training. Arriving in the United Kingdom in March of 1943, he undertook further training before being posted to 226 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command. From the first of September 1943 until May 1944 he flew bombing missions over France. He was then posted to 137 Wing, 2nd tactical air Force. It was as part of this Force that he was taking part in ground attack missions in fighter aircraft on D-Day.

Flight Lieutenant John Jeremiah Caulton

Mr John Caulton enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 27th of July 1941. Eight months after commencing pilot training, he embarked for the United Kingdom and arrived in mid-April of 1942. He completed training as a fighter pilot and was posted to No. 132 Squadron, Royal Air Force Fighter Command on February 6 1943. With this Squadron Mr Caulton was a flying offensive fighter, undertaking ground attack and shipping protection missions over France. He flew operationally until the end of April 1944, when he was shot down and crash landed in Holland. Having survived the crash, Mr Caulton was taken as a prisoner of war. It was over a year later that he was repatriated to the United Kingdom, eventually returning to New Zealand in July of 1946.

The Prairial
The “Prairial” and its 92 sailors will be conducting four routine calls around New Zealand as it travelled here to take part in the 2015 Southern Katipo Exercise led by the New Zealand Defence Force.

The Legion of Honour

Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour seeks to reward both military and civilian distinguished services rendered to the nation. The awarding of this medal falls under a campaign of recognition undertaken by France to officially distinguish the veterans who fought in the Second World War as well as the civilians who worked in the shadows to facilitate the liberation.

Since the campaign was launched in 2014, 21 New Zealanders have been recognised, including resistance heroine, Mrs Pippa Doyle and Dambusters pilot, Mr Les Munro. The Embassy of France would like to recognise the integral role of the New Zealand Defence Force in the identification of New Zealand veterans to be awarded the Legion of Honour.

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