Eamonn Holmes spoke about not feeling “worthy” of his OBE as he recalled memories of his uncle’s role in the war effort.
Isabel Webster and Holmes shared their family stories from the Second World War on the GB News Breakfast show on Monday morning.
The 64-year-old presenter spoke about his uncle being awarded a British Empire Medal for his work in the war.
Eamonn said: “My uncle Tommy diffused limpet mines from the sides of warships and he got a British Empire medal for that.
Eamonn Holmes spoke about not feeling "worthy" enough of an OBE
GB News
“I’ve got an OBE which is three or four times up the ladder, for doing what? For being on telly?
“And for putting your life at risk and defusing a mine you get a BEM. I just always find that ironic and not worthy in comparison to the job that people do.
“But thank you to everybody who did what they did.”
It comes as Britain prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944.
Holmes described how his uncle was awarded a BEM for his role in the war
GB News
There are a series of events taking place across the UK and in France with veterans from across the world expected to attend.
Isabel also recalled her grandfather's story from the D-Day operation, known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.
Isabel explained: “I heard my grandfather’s stories growing up, he was a D-Day plus one. He went to Sword Beach with the Canadians and survived the Dieppe Raids two years before so as a 22-year-old he had seen people being killed in the trenches.”
Eamonn asked: “And did he come back from Sword Beach?”
D-Day veterans Henry Rice (L) and Donald Howkins (R) attend celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings
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Isabel replied: “He stayed and he worked with the allies as they went across. He survived but he was later injured and then he recovered in Belgium which is where he met my grandmother and fell in love with her and brought her back to Britain later on.
“But it’s a remarkable story and I’ve been thinking about him a lot over the last few days, and I think lots of people at home will have their own memories from family. It is that time of reflection.”
D-Day was the name given to the invasion of the beaches at Normandy by troops from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other allies.
At the time, France was occupied by Nazi Germany and the assault came by sea, land and air.
By August 1944, all of Northern France had been liberated and by the spring of 1945, the Allies had defeated the Germans.
Despite their success, the Allies suffered tragic losses and some 4,000 troops were killed by German soldiers defending the beaches.
