IN his own words he was simply “doing his duty”.  But now Robert Manwaring's distinguished Royal Navy service which spanned three decades has earned him the highest honour that can be bestowed by France.

The country has recognised his efforts during one of the most decisive chapters of World War Two.

The 96-year-old served in the Royal Navy for 34 years, from 1935 to 1969, and during that time he served on a number of ships including HMS Delhi, HMS Cottesmore and HMS Cumberland.

His career in the Royal Navy took him across the world, from action near North Africa in 1942, the D-Day landings in 1944 and to Burma in 1945, which earned him an encounter with Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery.

The great grandfather of two served as a navigating officer and had his first taste of combat onboard HMS Delhi in 1936, when the ship was sent to protect merchant vessels off Barcelona. While the ship was anchored it survived a bombing raid.

In 1942 he was mentioned in dispatches as HMS Cottesmore intercepted and destroyed a German merchant ship.

During the D-Day landings HMS Cottesmore was operating between Gold Beach and Omaha beach, and escorted a convoy of ships across the Channel. The ship was also involved in the bombardment of the shore to prevent German guns from firing at landing forces.

Mr Manwaring said: “There was no excitement, we had a number of operations over the years, it was part and parcel of naval life, even when you suddenly get a bombing or something like that you can't afford to lose your concentration.”

After D-Day he went to Burma in 1945, where he served on HMS Cumberland. Whilst there he was among the forces who were spoken to by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, during a victory parade.

Mr Manwaring, from Badger Farm, said: "We were ready to bombard the islands off Burma where the airfields were but then the Japanese war ended, so I went into Rangoon for the victory parade.”

Mr Manwaring retired from the Navy in 1969, and became a lecturer. He had two children Pippa and Nikki and has three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He retired in 1985, and now lives in Winchester to be closer to his family.

Speaking about receiving the Legion d'Honneur, he said: “We are living as we are now because of what people like me did before you.  “It would have been a very different life if the Germans had taken over. I do not feel particularly proud, it is part of my service and for what I did in the service I was rewarded for it.  “I am not the only one it is just part of my naval career. We all did our duty during the war.”