Medals for Guernsey veterans.

[Administrator]

Visit to the Bailiwick of Guernsey

On 12-14 August counsellor of the Embassy Konstantin Shlykov presented the Ushakov medals to the Arctic Convoys veterans, resident in the island of Guernsey, Mr Ian Clive MACINTYRE, Harry Lawrence WOLLEY, Ragot Chatterton WOOD, Frederick Levi DARBY, Charles Frederick Thornton POYNDER who were awarded this military honour by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation for their personal courage and bravery displayed in WWII. Mr Shlykov also held working meetings at the Government of Guernsey and Channel Islands Occupation Society regarding honouring the memory of Soviet citizens who perished in Guernsey between 1941-1945.

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[Guernsey veterans]

Five World War Two veterans have been honoured by Russia for their part in transporting crucial supplies.

Lt Cdr Ian Clive Macintyre, 97, was among five Guernsey residents given the Ushakov medal "for personal courage and valour shown".

He said while he was "obviously very honoured" he was "just one of thousands... I did my job just like everyone else did".

Lt Cdr Macintyre said: "The Russians have always been appreciative."

"[This medal] is not really for me it's for the work that was actually done by everybody on the convoys."

Lt Cdr Macintyre, who served on HMS Nigeria, said the cold was the worst part: "It was a bit primitive early on because in the first convoys we had no clothing that was really suitable - a duffel coat, sea boats and what the dear ladies at home had knitted for us - woollen balaclavas."

The other four medal recipients were Charles Frederick Thornton Poynder, Harry Lawrence Wolley, Ragot Chatterton Wood and the late Frederick Levi Darby whose medal was presented to his widow.

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