Russia honours Arctic convoys war veterans

Dozens of veterans who braved freezing conditions to maintain a lifeline between the Soviet Union and the west during the Second World War will finally be honoured at a medal-giving ceremony today.

The Arctic convoys boasted crews of British and other allied navies who sailed vital supplies to soldiers battling against Hitler in the Eastern Front.

Fleets of merchant vessels were flanked by Royal Navy warships and dozens were lost as they were attacked from the air and sea.

Around 3000 civilian sailors lost their lives on the convoys, which set off from the Clyde and Loch Ewe from 1941 to 1945.

Now 48 veterans from the campaign will receive one of Russia’s highest military honours – almost 70 years on from their heroic struggle – at a ceremony in St Mary’s Cathedral.

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/russia-honours-arctic-convoys-war-veterans-1-3596083

What a great day for all these men yesterday who risked their lives on the Arctic Convoys described by Winston Churchill as the worst journey in the world. Being sunk on that journey was a virtual death sentence if they ended up in the water as their was little hope that rescue could come quick enough.
One of the men who wasn't there yesterday was a brave sailor from where I live and a regular at the club but unfortunately he passed away a couple of years ago. He was on four convoys sailing on these ships which were crewed by men from all corners of the UK, from the commonwealth and from the United States.
Russia has honoured them with one of their highest honours - the Ushakov medal, and that is in addition to the memorial unveiled in St Petersburg earlier this year with a statue showing a Russian sailor, a British sailor and an American sailor. Indeed several of the survivors were invited to attend by the Russians. This summarises the thoughts of William Power (1873–1951), Scottish author, journalist, politician.

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/LUCKY-MAN-a-true-story/

They deserve their day just like they did when they were awarded the Arctic Star medal by our own government and I take my hat off to them and all the men that died before this day arrived.

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