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Post by Administrator on May 9, 2020 21:44:06 GMT
Jubilee medals “75 Years of Victory"
On 1 May the Consulate General of Russia in Edinburgh began presenting the jubilee medals “75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” to the Scottish veterans of the Arctic Convoys.It is a great honour for us to pay tribute to every veteran. We remember their contribution to our common victory over fascism just as we remember heroism of our fathers and grandfathers. Veterans who have already received the award. James Docherty, John Patterson, David Craig. Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh.A Suffolk war veteran has been awarded with a Russian military service medal following his role in the Arctic Convoys of the Second World War. Peter Gosling, 94, was delivered the medal by post – which came complete with a signed letter from president Vladimir Putin – to commemorate VE Day and the role the Allies played in aiding the Soviet Union during its early days of war. LINKNinety-five-year-old Royal Navy veteran Alec Penstone is celebrating receiving yet another medal for bravery this week, just in time for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on Friday. The award of the Medal of Ushakov is a tribute from Russia to mark his courage for the part he played in the Arctic Convoys of World War Two. LINKJoe Grant has been awarded the medal from Russia for his wartime role with the Arctic Convoys. LINK
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Post by Administrator on May 10, 2020 7:42:15 GMT
Re: Jubilee medals “75 Years of Victory"
I was not to certain if this was more of the Ushakov hence,
a new thread but, the heading seems correct:
apparently as it is:
RUSSIAN JUBILEE MEDAL
75 YEARS OF VICTORY
The Russian Government will be awarding the Jubilee Medal to Citizens of the Russian Federation and foreign nationals who served during World War Two, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Victory in Europe. This will include veterans of the Arctic Convoys.
They started distributing the medals on 22nd April 2020.
I will update when I find more.
Keith.
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Post by Administrator on May 12, 2020 22:20:13 GMT
Great to see more jubilee medals “75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” reach their heroes!
Congratulations to the Arctic Convoys Veterans - Albert Lamond, Dennis Jones, Edwin Leadbetter, James Forbes, John Conroy, John Ker, John Menzies, Kenneth Mackenzie.
Thank you for the Victory and peaceful skies!
Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh
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Post by Administrator on May 13, 2020 23:18:51 GMT
A DECORATED Second World War navy veteran from an Oxfordshire village received a 75th anniversary medal from the Russian Embassy on Victory in Europe Day. Ron Buckett, a 94-year-old resident of Buckland, received the foreign medal he earned in freezing waters plagued with enemy ships while he served as a seamen aboard the destroyer HMS Louis that escorted supplies to Arctic Russia. LINK |
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Post by Administrator on May 13, 2020 23:24:07 GMT
Joe Grant has been awarded the medal from Russia for his wartime role with the Arctic Convoys.The 94-four-old pensioner from Trowbridge was awarded the medal for his role on the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable with the WW2 Arctic Convoys. The citation from Russia’s ambassador Andrei Kelin said: “It is a great honour for me to thank you and your comrades-in-arms on behalf of the Russian Government for what you have done to help defeat Nazi Germany 75 years ago." “Russian people do remember the dramatic and heroic story of the Arctic Convoys - a period of unique collaboration between Russia and Britain.” During the war, the Arctic Convoys delivered more than four million tonnes of much-needed cargo to Russia, including 7,000 airplanes, 5,000 tanks, trucks, tyres, fuel and food. LINK
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Post by Administrator on May 16, 2020 10:20:31 GMT
Burnham-On-Sea war veteran receives medal for his brave Navy role in World War IIA Burnham-On-Sea war veteran has been awarded a prestigious medal by the Russian government for his brave role in helping to defeat Nazi Germany 75 years ago. Tony Winterburn, 94, served in the Merchant Navy, helping to transport aid to Russia in the Arctic Convoys in 1943 during the Second World War. Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin says in a letter to Tony: “It is a great honour for me to thank you and your comrades-in-arms on behalf of the Russian government for what you did to help defeat Nazi Germany 75 years ago.” “Russian people do remember the dramatic and heroic story of the Arctic Convoys – a period of unique collaboration between Russia and Britain.” “From August 1941 to May 1945 the convoys delivered more than 4 million tonnes of cargo to Russia including at least 7000 aeroplanes, 5000 tanks, trucks, fuel, food, medicine, clothes, metals and other raw material. Thousands of Allied seamen lost their lives as the British ships sailed in the stormy waters of the Arctic Ocean under a constant threat from German U-boats and aircraft.” “Your heroism and courage will always be remembered. We strongly believe that this inseparable bond between our two nations should be preserved. This year the world commemorates the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War Two.” “The Russian Government finds it extremely important to recognise those who contributed to the victory, both in Russia and overseas. On this occasion Russian authorities have issued a special commemorative medal that is being awarded to the Russian veterans as well as members of the Allied forces who were previously decorated with Russian awards.” “On the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation I have the honour to present to you the commemorative medal ‘75 years of victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945’ and wish you and your family good health and all the best.” Tony Winterburn recalls serving in the Arctic Convoy Tony’s story started on 7th of January 1943. “With 9 months sea time behind me, I joined ‘Empire Portia’ in Tyne dock as third radio officer. It was my 17th birthday. She was brand new and facing her maiden voyage. On the 17th of January we left Loch Ewe bound for Murmansk with 15 ships in convoy plus a large escort. The weather was reasonable for the season but to the north and east of bear island it was very cold. We were lucky as regards enemy action and with U boats driven off by our escorts and a failed torpedo bomber attack we were able to sail into Kola on 27th of January without loss.” “Convoy RA-52 sailed two days after we arrived and RA-53 on 1st of March. Destiny or better-said misfortune prevented us from sailing as planned with RA-53. After waiting some time for a berth, we finally discharged the cargo of war material and loaded a part cargo of 1000 tons of cotton in bales and a small amount of timber. We then went to an anchorage in Saida Bay to await the returning convoy’s departure. During our wait, ‘Empire Bard’ came alongside and loaded us with a crated Hurricane fighter plane which had been damaged and was being returned for repair.” “Murmansk and the surrounding district was under regular air attack and, some days after anchoring, we became a target for an ME109, whose 500lb armour piercing bomb hit just forward of the bridge. The bomb exploded below decks in #2 hold blowing a hole below the waterline in the hull plating and setting the cotton on fire.” “This resulted in the ship taking water and listing almost immediately to some 30 degrees to port. The crated Hurricane was blocking our path to the seat of the fire, and besides having no adequate gear for moving it, we had precious little time. The deck plating was becoming red hot. The bridge itself acting as a sort of chimney, and was quickly beset with fire. We abandoned ship in the portside lifeboats and were picked up by a Russian tug which partly extinguished the fire and towed the ship into shallow water to prevent it from sinking.” “After a period in Polyarnoe hospital and an even longer period lodging aboard other ships I was able towards the end of April rejoin ‘Empire Portia’. The hole in the hull Had been patched up and temporary accommodation built in the shell of the bridge structure. The fire had however destroyed the radio room, leaving us with no radio equipment. The ship was again placed alongside the quay for loading and are berth was just astern ‘Ocean Freedom’ which lay on the bottom with just her bridge structure showing above water. In a convoy subsequent to PQ17, she had been hit whilst at the jetty in Murmansk. The ROs in ‘Empire Portia’, Realise ING that the radio gear was probably undamaged rigged with the help of the bosun hey gang way over to the bridge of the ‘Ocean Freedom’ and brought the much needed radio equipment back to the ship.” “By now we knew that convoys to North Russia had ceased for the time being. The lame ducks – ships that had missed the last returning convoys for one reason or another – were sailed to Archangel to avoid the constant air attacks on Murmansk. There, ‘Empire Portia’ was moored alongside at Bacharitza along with heavy lift ships and a Norwegian tanker where it stayed for a further six months. Our adventures during this period are another story but on November 1st 1943 we joined convoy RA54A and returned almost without incident to the Tyne, arriving about the 16th 17th November, a ship quite different to the one that left the builders yard in pristine condition 12 months earlier , complete with the ‘Ocean Freedom’s’ radio gear.” LINK
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Post by Administrator on May 29, 2020 7:24:43 GMT
A NAVY veteran who helped Russia survive the hardships of war has been honoured - 75 years on. Dougie Shelley has been awarded a commemorative medal on behalf of the Russian Government, “75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941 to 1945”. Mr Shelley, from Southend, was a Seaman Gunner on the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War. After the war, Mr Shelley worked for the Ministry of Defence, Merchant Navy and in security. Now aged 95, he attends the Veteran’s Club, run by SSAFA, the armed forces charity in Southend, which has supported him for many years. He said: “All told, I’ve had all six Russian convoy medals now - the 40th, 50, 60th, 70th and a special one given by President Putin. The Artic Convoy played a big part in the war, no doubt. LINK
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Post by Administrator on Jun 8, 2020 14:13:57 GMT
Russian salute for East Renfrewshire man who risked life on Arctic ConvoysA WAR hero from East Renfrewshire has been awarded a commemorative medal by the Russian Government for his help in defeating Nazi Germany 75 years ago. Edwin Leadbetter, 94, was among the brave servicemen who risked their lives by taking part in the perilous Russian Arctic Convoys of the Second World War. More than 3,000 sailors and merchant seamen died from the bitter cold and enemy attacks on the missions to transport vital supplies from Scotland to Soviet ports in the Arctic Circle. Between August 1941 and May 1945, a total of 78 convoys delivered more than four million tonnes of supplies to Russia, including 7,000 planes, 5,000 tanks, trucks, fuel and food. Mr Leadbetter’s service saw him take part in many daring voyages, from defending the convoys to pulling men out of the freezing waters after their ships had been torpedoed. In recognition of the part he played, the Russian Government has awarded Mr Leadbetter a medal to commemorate ‘75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, 1941-1945.’ He is also to receive the Ushakov Medal, which dates back to 1944 and was named in honour of Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, who never lost a battle and was proclaimed patron saint of the Russian Navy. It will be personally presented to him at the Russian Consulate in Edinburgh once the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted. Mr Leadbetter, who joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18, said he is “highly delighted” with his latest award. He told the Barrhead News: “I see the medal as a great honour.” As a young man, Mr Leadbetter was deployed as a quartermaster aboard HMS Fencer – an Attacker-class escort aircraft carrier. He saw service on the Atlantic Convoys, Norwegian Campaign, North Sea and the Arctic Convoys. Mr Leadbetter, of Newton Mearns, stayed in the Navy until 1954, before working in a shipyard and as a lorry driver. More recently, he has been supported by the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) to enable him to continue living independently. LINK
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Post by Administrator on Aug 5, 2020 11:56:23 GMT
A 94-YEAR-OLD Navy veteran who helped supply Russian forces and was part of the relief force on the ground in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has been awarded a medal from the Russian Embassy for his service during the Second World War. John Hughes, who now lives at Cwmbran House Residential Home, was part of a Russian convoy aboard the battleship HMS Duke of York. He was awarded this medal in recognition of his service and contribution to the war effort, and was presented with the medal by staff at Cwmbran House as part of the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of VE Day. `LINK |
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Post by Administrator on Aug 10, 2020 11:43:20 GMT
Under-age sailor in Second World War Russian convoy gets bravery medal at 94.
Eighty years after lying about his age to join the Royal Navy at 15 years old, a Second World War veteran has been awarded a medal for bravery.
John Hughes, 94, was part of a Russian convoy that braved a “frozen hell” and the threat from German vessels to escort supply ships.
He has been awarded the Russian Medal of Ushakov for his service in helping to keep supply lines going.
Mr Hughes, who also witnessed the devastation caused by the atomic bombs that struck Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945, was given the medal, which was collected from the Russian embassy as part of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of VE Day at his residential home in Newport, South Wales.
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Post by Administrator on Aug 24, 2020 19:41:54 GMT
VIA: Embassy of Russia in the USA.
Victory75.
President Vladimir Putin has conferred Russia’s Ushakov medal upon 17 US veterans of Arctic Convoys.
The decree says the award is for the Americans’ "personal courage and bravery displayed during participation in WWII Arctic convoys". Congratulations!
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