Britain's Arctic heroes fury:

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Fury as government bars Britain's Arctic heroes from accepting Russian bravery medal for their role in perilous WWII campaign:

Russia wants to award the Medal of Ushakov to Britain's Arctic convoy veterans as a symbol of the country's gratitude

The Foreign Office has blocked the move as it said it would break the rules surrounding acceptance of medals

The Russian Embassy has expressed its 'deep regret' at decision, which was slammed by veterans

WWII heroes risked their lives time and again ferrying crucial supplies to the Soviet Union to help fight off the advance of Hitler

LINK: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2217148/Arctic-convoys-Fury-veterans-denied-Russian-bravery-medal-role-perilous-World-War-II-campaign.html#ixzz29CiCIXvl

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You may be able to help with this, please cut and paste the message below in to your own document and add your own details, then send to your Member of Parliament, for your area.

"On behalf of all surviving Arctic Convoy veterans from WWII, I write with great disappointment and disbelief in regard to the Foreign Office blocking the move to award the Russian "Medal of Ushakov" to those men who endured the severe hardships, we can only imagine in the frozen Arctic in those desperate days of WWII.

The Foreign Office state that the rules of acceptance of foreign awards had to have taken place within the previous five years or that permission cannot be granted if they have received a UK award for the same services. This is somewhat contradictory to the award of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal for those who served in operations in Malaya/Malaysia between August 1957 and August 1966. This medal was first struck in 2005 and in 2011 unrestricted permission was given by Her Majesty The Queen for the acceptance and wearing of this medal, even though those who served in this theatre had already received the British General Service Medal, with additional Malaya/Borneo Clasp. I would also like to point out the fact of the award of the Naval GSM and GSM with Suez Canal Zone Clasp which was awarded in 2003 to those who had served between 16th October 1951 and 19th October 1954. This award was also originally subject to the five year rule and should not be considered, which was later changed and the Honours and Decorations Committee endorsed the recommendation.

It would seem rather ironic considering the Prime Ministers recent speech the other day on national television in regard to the millions of pounds, rightly so, the Government are going to put into the forthcoming 100th Anniversary of the start of WWI, as an act of remembrance to educate those at school and the sacrifice made by so many, but they are not willing to consider an award to those veterans of WWII still living by stating a rule that has been overturned with previous awards.

On behalf of myself, those of us who have served at sea and the few remaining Arctic Heroes, I ask you to show support and let them be honoured by a country that still remembers their sacrifice"