Post by Administrator on Sept 3, 2020 23:42:27 GMT
Norwegian Commemoration Medal 1939-1945
New to me:
World War Two veteran awarded for his service which brought 525 evacuees to safety.
Roy Elwood served on board the destroyer HMS Zambesi, which helped to escort three Russian Arctic convoys during the Second World War. Now he has been awarded with a medal for his service.
A 95-year-old veteran who served in World War Two and brought hundreds of people to safety has been awarded a medal for his service.
Mr Roy Elwood served on board the destroyer HMS Zambesi, which helped to escort three Russian Arctic convoys.
And today he has shared his experience of working on board the ship during a convoy in February 1945, which rescued 525 Norwegian civilians from a terrifying war zone.
Mr Elwood, from Whickham, said: “The mess deck was packed with women, children and old men who looked in a very rough state. They were hungry for the food that was provided.
“We also gave them cigarettes and chocolate. They couldn’t speak English so it was sign language, although we had an interpreter aboard the ship.”
Mr Elwood explained that the convoy was approved by British Government, to evacuate Norwegian’s from a scorched-earth policy imposed by the German forces.
The policy planned to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy and caused families to flee from burning houses.
HMS Zambesi was one of three ships to carry evacuees from the Island of Soroya, in Norway, back to Murmansk, in Russia, where they were separated around a number of freighters for passage to Scotland.
Mr Elwood added: “It was a very rough ride, with hurricane force winds and rough seas which caused the convoy to break up.
“When the worst of the storm over, we rounded up the convoy but the SS Henry Bacon was missing and later attacked and sunk.”
A second ship was also abandoned, resulting in the loss of 27 lives, but all of the Norwegians made it to Scotland.
LINK
New to me:
World War Two veteran awarded for his service which brought 525 evacuees to safety.
Roy Elwood served on board the destroyer HMS Zambesi, which helped to escort three Russian Arctic convoys during the Second World War. Now he has been awarded with a medal for his service.
A 95-year-old veteran who served in World War Two and brought hundreds of people to safety has been awarded a medal for his service.
Mr Roy Elwood served on board the destroyer HMS Zambesi, which helped to escort three Russian Arctic convoys.
And today he has shared his experience of working on board the ship during a convoy in February 1945, which rescued 525 Norwegian civilians from a terrifying war zone.
Mr Elwood, from Whickham, said: “The mess deck was packed with women, children and old men who looked in a very rough state. They were hungry for the food that was provided.
“We also gave them cigarettes and chocolate. They couldn’t speak English so it was sign language, although we had an interpreter aboard the ship.”
Mr Elwood explained that the convoy was approved by British Government, to evacuate Norwegian’s from a scorched-earth policy imposed by the German forces.
The policy planned to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy and caused families to flee from burning houses.
HMS Zambesi was one of three ships to carry evacuees from the Island of Soroya, in Norway, back to Murmansk, in Russia, where they were separated around a number of freighters for passage to Scotland.
Mr Elwood added: “It was a very rough ride, with hurricane force winds and rough seas which caused the convoy to break up.
“When the worst of the storm over, we rounded up the convoy but the SS Henry Bacon was missing and later attacked and sunk.”
A second ship was also abandoned, resulting in the loss of 27 lives, but all of the Norwegians made it to Scotland.
LINK