Salut mon brave Lou
WHEN Lou Solomons, now 101, was conscripted into the British Army during World War II, his main goal was to stay alive.
WHEN Lou Solomons, now 101, was conscripted into the British Army during World War II, his main goal was to stay alive.
Little did he know that over 75 years later he would be awarded France’s top honour – by President Emmanuel Macron no less – in appreciation for his service in the Allies’ defeat of the Germans.
Solomons was awarded the Legion of Honour by Macron at a ceremony at the Hyde Park War Memorial in Sydney yesterday (Wednesday) morning alongside two other veterans, with Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull also in attendance.
He told The AJN that he felt a sense of pride in being recognised. “I feel very elated, I feel very honoured,” he said. “After 75 years, they found me.”
Solomons enlisted in the 16th Royal Fusiliers in 1939. After undergoing his training, he spent two-and-a-half years serving in the occupational forces in Northern Ireland before his regiment was sent to Dover prior to the opening of the second front.
His regiment was then converted to artillery and he underwent additional training in Dover before being sent to France in August 1944, shortly after D Day.
“We got on to the beaches and the artillery was bombarding the German installations there. We were bombing them day and night,” he said.
When the front moved too quickly for the artillery firing from behind it to keep up, Solomons ended up serving in a field hospital.
Solomons’ son David explained that the family found out Lou was eligible for the Legion of Honour by accident.
“We had an employee who asked for leave so that she could go back to England to attend a ceremony that her uncle was having to receive the Legion of Honour because he served in the liberation of France,” he said.
“So I contacted the embassy here and said ‘what’s it all about’ and they said ‘fill in the form and we’ll come back to you’.”
After not hearing back for over two years, it was confirmed that the honour would be conferred. Then last month, the family found out Macron himself would be presenting it. “The fact that Macron is coming makes it special,” David said prior to the ceremony.
The occasion was also made special by the presence of family members including four of Lou’s grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Sadly, Lou’s wife of over 77 years, Beatrice, passed away a month ago.
“It would have been fantastic [to have her there],” Lou said.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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