Family thank veteran for courage

Major Maurice Turnbull was killed in action

A war veteran who rescued the body of his commanding officer during the Normandy landings has held an emotional meeting with the dead man's family.

Major Maurice Turnbull, who was killed shortly after the D-Day landings in 1944, was a distinguished sportsman before World War Two broke out.

Fred Llewellyn: Moved to tears by meeting

He had played Test cricket for England and he was in the Wales rugby team of 1933, which beat England at Twickenham for the first time, with a score of 7-3.

But 11 years later, he was killed by a German sniper advancing with the Welsh Guards through Normandy.

Sergeant Fred Llewellyn of the Welsh Guards spotted the body of Major Turnbull and carried him away from the frontline.

Mr Llewellyn found a photograph of the officer's wife and children in his wallet.

Emotional meeting

He made sure the wallet and other personal possessions were returned to the Turnbull family.

Mr Llewellyn met with the son and daughters of Major Turnbull, 46 years on.

He was shown the same photo which had been dispatched home from France, which he admitted brought tears to his eyes.

"I have been rather moved by all this, but being a Welshman, you are rather emotional anyway.

"He is still a young man in my eyes."

This family photo was found in Major Turnbull's wallet

After meeting the man who recovered her father's body, his daughter Georgina said: "I know that my father was looked after and that the honour of the man was properly shown by Fred Llewellyn."

His son Simon added: "I will never forget the duty and care shown to my father."

Details of the act of heroism and respect for the officer have been written about by author Andrew Hignall.

"The Germans were counter-attacking and for Fred to have the presence of mind to get his body and look after it I think was remarkable."