City veteran awarded French Legion of Honour
John Marvin will never forget his emotional return from serving as a driver/mechanic in the Second World War, including being reunited with his mother, brothers and sisters after deboarding a train in his hometown of Belleville.
“It was one of the happiest days of my life. It was a really good day,” the west-end resident recalled Thursday, days after receiving the Legion of Honour – the highest French order of merit for military and civil merits, established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802.
Marvin, 94, applied for the award last March after reading a story in The Examiner and learning that he was eligible because he provided relief to France during a certain time frame.
The Summit Terrace resident found out about three weeks ago that, effective Dec. 18, 2017, he was a Knight (Chevalier) of the Légion d’Honneur.
“I was very, very pleased to get it,” he said of the honour, pointing out how much it will mean to his descendants–including his two daughters and son, seven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Marvin has lived in Peterborough for about 23 years and credits staying active – including spending time with friends and playing cards – for keeping him sharp.
“I like to keep going and on top of things,” said the member of 428 Wing (Peterborough) Royal Canadian Air Force Association.
He moved to the city with his late wife after they sold their waterfront home near the quiet village of Trent River, where they moved following his retirement. There, they indulged their love for the outdoors, enjoying hobbies such as fishing.
Before that, the Marvins lived in Whitby, where he was an insurance consultant for the Phoenix Group of England, overseeing some 72 agencies. He frequented the Kawarthas as part of his work and the region left an indelible impression on him.
Although his wife, who died four years ago in September, is from Yorkshire, England – she was no war bride, Marvin joked. The couple met in Canada.
His military service began in November 1941, when he joined the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, which became the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Unit, in Barrie.
Interestingly, Marvin took his basic training in Peterborough before getting his advanced training in Quebec and heading overseas in June 1942.
He stayed in England until five days after D-Day and recalled driving his truck off a landing craft and onto the beach in Normandy.
He then followed the Allied line as it made its way across France as part of a supply/repair unit that ensured troops liberating the country had the vehicles they needed.
The distinction of being in the Legion brings back unpleasant memories for Marvin, who recalled the hot summer conditions, nothing but hand-dug trenches to urinate and defecate in and soldiers suffering from a wide array of sickness from the contamination.
“It wasn’t much fun ... it wasn’t a pleasant time,” he said, acknowledging however, that it is so important to share those kinds of stories so future generations know what transpired during that dark part of history.
The order’s motto is “Honneur et Patrie” (“Honour and Fatherland”) and its seat is the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur next to the Musée d’Orsay, on the left bank of the River Seine in Paris.
It is divided into five degrees of increasing distinction: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and GrandCroix (Grand Cross).