Post by Administrator on Jan 12, 2017 15:19:59 GMT
All a former Russian Convoy seaman wanted for his 95th birthday, recently, was to talk to the only other living Merchant Navy veteran in New Zealand.
The World War II veteran lost many of his brothers in arms during the war, and throughout the years since the remaining survivors had passed away.
Fearing he was the last one left, Jim Lester contacted the Herald and featured in a story in 2016 in an attempt to try to find other Merchant Navy seamen who had participated in the Russian Convoys.
"I was looking forward to someone to discuss the experiences with."
In response to the publicity he was contacted by the NZ Russian Arctic Convoys club president who gave him contact details for a Navy veteran in Christchurch and a Merchant Navy veteran in Dunedin. A planned meet up with the Royal Navy man did not occur due to the Christchurch man's ill health and when Lester contacted the Merchant Navy veteran at his rest home he was too frail to speak coherently.
"I don't think anyone can understand what it (convoys) was like unless they were there."
The Russian Convoys comprised clusters of 30-plus ships, including protective Royal Navy vessels, which sailed from northern Scotland to the Arctic Circle.
World War II veteran Jim Lester, of Geraldine, has expanded his search to England to find fellow Merchant Navy Russian Convoy veterans.
LINK
The World War II veteran lost many of his brothers in arms during the war, and throughout the years since the remaining survivors had passed away.
Fearing he was the last one left, Jim Lester contacted the Herald and featured in a story in 2016 in an attempt to try to find other Merchant Navy seamen who had participated in the Russian Convoys.
"I was looking forward to someone to discuss the experiences with."
In response to the publicity he was contacted by the NZ Russian Arctic Convoys club president who gave him contact details for a Navy veteran in Christchurch and a Merchant Navy veteran in Dunedin. A planned meet up with the Royal Navy man did not occur due to the Christchurch man's ill health and when Lester contacted the Merchant Navy veteran at his rest home he was too frail to speak coherently.
"I don't think anyone can understand what it (convoys) was like unless they were there."
The Russian Convoys comprised clusters of 30-plus ships, including protective Royal Navy vessels, which sailed from northern Scotland to the Arctic Circle.
World War II veteran Jim Lester, of Geraldine, has expanded his search to England to find fellow Merchant Navy Russian Convoy veterans.
LINK