BEM honour for French Deputy Mayor

July 30, 2024
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Benjamin Gorgibus, the Deputy Mayor of Saint-Valery-en-Caux, has been presented with an Honorary British Empire Medal (BEM).

The Award from His Majesty The King is in recognition of the Deputy Mayor’s services to British war Veterans and commemorations.

It was presented by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the French Republic, Dame Menna Rawlings, at an investiture ceremony held at the British Embassy in Paris (pictured, above).

Monsieur Gorgibus is a friend of Highland RFCA and has been instrumental (along with Mayor Jean-François Ouvry) in organising commemorations of the Battle of Saint-Valery-en-Caux.

Saint-Valery-en-Caux is a fishing village in Normandy in northern France that was besieged by the German army in 1940. Highland RFCA has, along with British Army representatives, attended many of the commemoration events in previous years.

The British Empire Medal.

The British Empire Medal presented to Monsieur Gorgibus.

M. Gorgibus said: “For many years I have worked in Saint-Valery-en-Caux to commemorate those who fell in battle, our ongoing French-British friendships, and of course, peace. Our area saw many atrocities during World War Two, in particular the capture of the 51st Highland Division, and I try to honour this in the work I do with my colleagues in our community.

“I am overwhelmed to receive this honour from King Charles III which is awarded to so few outwith the Commonwealth, and I accept it with tremendous gratitude and humility. I can assure my friends in Scotland and beyond, that we will continue to remember their loved ones and to honour their bravery.”

The Award submission was supported by 51st Infantry Brigade and HQ Army in Scotland.

Find out more about the Battle of Saint-Valery-en-Caux.

British Empire Medal certificate.

The certificate confirming the conferrence of the medal.