Honoured on board HMS Belfast:

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British Arctic Convoy veterans honoured on board HMS Belfast today:

Today's ceremony will see them awarded the Ushakov Medal - a state decoration of the Russian Federation that was retained from the awards system of the USSR post 1991.

Despite today's political tension, the Russian people will never forget the help they received.

LINK

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Lillington war hero gets Medal of Ushakov for his seafaring efforts during conflict:

A Lillington war hero has received Russia’s naval equivalent of the Victoria Cross for his part in vital supply convoys during the Second World War.

During the war a teenage Bill Perks, now 89 of Buckley Road, sailed on the converted destroyer HMS Walker on nine convoys between Scotland to Russia, braving icy storms and the threat of bombings and torpedo strikes.

In recognition for his brave efforts the grandfather of five was presented with the Medal of Ushakov on the deck of the HMS Belfast in London last Friday during a commemorative event to mark Russian Victory Day and the Russian and British alliance in the Arctic Convoys between 1941-1945.

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[Administrator]

Lillington war hero gets Medal of Ushakov for his seafaring efforts during conflict:

A Lillington war hero has received Russia’s naval equivalent of the Victoria Cross for his part in vital supply convoys during the Second World War.

During the war a teenage Bill Perks, now 89 of Buckley Road, sailed on the converted destroyer HMS Walker on nine convoys between Scotland to Russia, braving icy storms and the threat of bombings and torpedo strikes.

In recognition for his brave efforts the grandfather of five was presented with the Medal of Ushakov on the deck of the HMS Belfast in London last Friday during a commemorative event to mark Russian Victory Day and the Russian and British alliance in the Arctic Convoys between 1941-1945.

LINK

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Russia, UK: British WWII Veteran Heroes Receive RUSSIAN AWARDS:

Russian, British Arctic Convoy veterans awarded medals on HMS Belfast May 09, 2014 Veteran heroes of the Russian Navy, the UK Royal Navy and Merchant Navy have been awarded long-awaited medals for their service in the Arctic Convoys during World War II. The ceremony took place in London on the HMS Belfast on May 9. The veterans were presented the Russian Ushakov Medal - a state decoration of the Russian Federation that was retained from the awards system of the USSR post 1991. Russian admiral Fyodor Ushakov who never lost a battle is a patron saint of the Russian Navy. -RT.

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British Arctic Convoy veterans honoured on board HMS Belfast
by Luke Hanrahan, ITV London - last updated Fri 9 May 2014 UK
Second World War

Through Arctic seas seventy eight convoys from Britain to northern Russia brought the Soviet Union the lifeline it needed to fight off the Nazis.

Some of the ships that left Britain never came back. The British faced continual German attacks, from the air and from the sea and 3,000 men died as a result.

The supplies that arrived kept millions of Russian people alive.

British planes, flown by Russians, repelled the approaching German army.

In Russia, the importance of the Arctic Convoys has never been forgotten. Britain, the only ally to provide desperately assistance, which swung the balance on the eastern front

Twenty-seven million Russian people died during the Second World War, but millions more would have died were it not for the efforts of these few thousand British men - recognised in Russia as heroes.

Despite today's political tension, the Russian people will never forget the help they received.

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