Post by Administrator on Apr 18, 2020 6:53:43 GMT
World War Two: Russian medals for last Arctic Convoys veterans
The last surviving veterans of the so-called Arctic Convoys will be receiving medals to mark the anniversary of the final naval escorts of World War Two.
Harold Boudier, 94, from Penarth, was on the last wartime supply voyage to Russia from a naval base in Scotland, which he joined 75 years ago today.
The contribution of the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy was forgotten during the Cold War which followed.
Alan Higgins, 96, joined the Royal Navy as a teenager in Barry Dock.
"I swept the decks and made tea as a boy and when I was 18 I became a telegraphist and we dealt with a lot of messages in code."
Harold and Alan, along with other surviving members of the Arctic Convoys have since received honours from the Russian government - and were presented with an Arctic Star medal for the 70th anniversary in Cardiff.
They are two of those remaining veterans who will receive a 75th anniversary medal - which will be sent by post because of the current coronavirus lockdown.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy said: "It is important to show that we remember them, their courage and their role in our common victory. We are grateful to them and we will preserve this memory.
"For this reason we have decided that presenting the veterans with this medal would be a great way to celebrate the anniversary and congratulate them on Victory Day."
LINK
The last surviving veterans of the so-called Arctic Convoys will be receiving medals to mark the anniversary of the final naval escorts of World War Two.
Harold Boudier, 94, from Penarth, was on the last wartime supply voyage to Russia from a naval base in Scotland, which he joined 75 years ago today.
The contribution of the Merchant Navy and Royal Navy was forgotten during the Cold War which followed.
Alan Higgins, 96, joined the Royal Navy as a teenager in Barry Dock.
"I swept the decks and made tea as a boy and when I was 18 I became a telegraphist and we dealt with a lot of messages in code."
Harold and Alan, along with other surviving members of the Arctic Convoys have since received honours from the Russian government - and were presented with an Arctic Star medal for the 70th anniversary in Cardiff.
They are two of those remaining veterans who will receive a 75th anniversary medal - which will be sent by post because of the current coronavirus lockdown.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy said: "It is important to show that we remember them, their courage and their role in our common victory. We are grateful to them and we will preserve this memory.
"For this reason we have decided that presenting the veterans with this medal would be a great way to celebrate the anniversary and congratulate them on Victory Day."
LINK