Derbyshire to Grant Freedom of County to D-Day Veteran

The Freedom of Derbyshire is set to be bestowed upon a D-Day veteran. Albert Keir served as a member of the naval crew responsible for transporting US troops to Utah Beach in France during the crucial World War Two operation on 6 June 1944. Mr. Keir, a 99-year-old resident of Bakewell, received the National Order of the Legion of Honour (Legion d’honneur) from the French government in 2015; this is France’s highest order of merit for military and civilian personnel. Derbyshire county councillors have now cast a unanimous vote to agree in principle to confer the honour upon Mr. Keir, acknowledging his service and life achievements, at a special meeting scheduled for early next year. The veteran, who is set to turn 100 next summer, had been employed as a painter and decorator after concluding his schooling at age 14 and was also a member of the Local Defence Volunteers. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943, performing general ship and gunnery duties as a seaman aboard the Flower class corvette HMS Potentilla. His discharge occurred shortly before the war concluded in 1945, under a “category B” discharge, which was extended to individuals in the construction trade capable of repairing and building homes for the large number of returning personnel. In the 1950s, he commenced employment as a painter and decorator for Derbyshire County Council, remaining there for most of his career until his retirement in 1990 at the age of 65. He stated: “I was very pleasantly surprised and thrilled to be considered for such an honour and would be extremely proud to accept it.” He added: “I would like to thank everybody involved in the process and for putting my name forward.” Andrew Keir, Mr. Keir’s son, whose mother Dorothy was married to Albert for 66 years until her passing in 2019, informed the BBC that his father was “absolutely astonished” by the offer of the Derbyshire honour. Andrew Keir commented: “I think he was one of those people who had just had enough of the war when it finished, but you find like-minded people and you start talking a little bit more about it.” Albert continues to be an active participant in the Royal British Legion’s social calendar and holds the distinction of being one of the nation’s longest-serving poppy sellers. He currently resides in a residential home, where Andrew states he “still perfectly looks after himself.” Andrew added: “He’s thriving and he’s getting out quite a lot.” Andrew further remarked: “Following the D-Day celebrations in Normandy this year he’s been invited [to events] left right and centre, he gets a better social life than I do. He does try and keep himself busy.” Representatives from the British Legion at Bakewell and the armed forces veterans breakfast club consistently arrange for his transport to meetings, breakfasts, and outings. Andrew noted: “A lot of the veterans, they make a bit of a fuss of him when he’s out and he absolutely loves it.” Andrew conveyed that his father “would like to thank anybody who has been involved in putting him forward for this great honour.” However, he added, Albert “has always just seen it that he’s doing his bit. You had a job to do during the war and you got on with it.” Andrew concluded: “I’m proud as punch.”