Post by KG on Jun 25, 2013 13:16:05 GMT
The UK Government had prevented British nationals from receiving Russia's medal of Ushakov:
Thousands of veterans who sailed on Arctic convoys to support the Russian war effort were told last year that they could not collect bravery medals. Some 3,000 servicemen had been offered Ushakov medals by the Russian government to recognise their courage in taking part in Arctic missions to support fighting on the eastern front during the Second World War, They had risked their lives countless times on what Winston Churchill called 'the worst journey in the world'.
The FCO told veterans that because they have already been honoured with the Atlantic Star campaign medal, they could not accept the Russian offer.There was much anger that the British Government had denied the chance to wear the Russian Ushakov Medal, the Foreign Office blocked the award because service to the Russians had not taken place within the last five years, even though veterans from the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand were allowed to collect their medals. Last year, the Prime Minister asked Sir John Holmes to review the current policy on military medals, the FCO added.
In a double U-turn the government firstly commissioned a medal – the Arctic Star, The medal was created following a long-running campaign to see the men who took part in the harsh sea campaign, formally recognised. But British veterans continued to fight for the right to receive a medal from the Russian government.
An early day motion was also tabled in the Commons with 42 MPs from across the political spectrum adding their name to it and calling for the medal to be awarded, with other veterans from across the country and their own MPs adding their voices to demands for recognition and it has recently been announced that UK rules preventing them from receiving the award have been put aside.
THE SECOND GOVERNMENT U-turn, now allows Second World War veterans of the Arctic Convoys to receive a medal from the Russian Government, It follows the British Government's decision to make an exception to the rules on the acceptance of medals from other countries. The Foreign Office lifted the restriction in time for President Putin of Russia's visit to London, during which he presented the medals to several veterans.
On Sunday, June 16, during a visit to the UK, Russian president Vladmir Putin presented the first of the Ushakov medals — named after an eighteenth century Russian Fleet commander — to British sailors.
He said: "We feel special respect for you and for your comrades in arms. And it’s not only about the huge volume of aid provided to the Soviet Union with your help during the Second World War; the reason is that you and your comrades in arms demonstrated unparalleled heroism during that struggle and you instilled in everybody’s minds hope that the victory over the Nazis was coming soon."
According to a spokesman, Prime Minister David Cameron felt it was "only right" the veterans were given the chance to receive and wear a "very high honour" from the Russian state "given all the sacrifices and hardship they undertook for our collective good".
Thousands of veterans who sailed on Arctic convoys to support the Russian war effort were told last year that they could not collect bravery medals. Some 3,000 servicemen had been offered Ushakov medals by the Russian government to recognise their courage in taking part in Arctic missions to support fighting on the eastern front during the Second World War, They had risked their lives countless times on what Winston Churchill called 'the worst journey in the world'.
The FCO told veterans that because they have already been honoured with the Atlantic Star campaign medal, they could not accept the Russian offer.There was much anger that the British Government had denied the chance to wear the Russian Ushakov Medal, the Foreign Office blocked the award because service to the Russians had not taken place within the last five years, even though veterans from the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand were allowed to collect their medals. Last year, the Prime Minister asked Sir John Holmes to review the current policy on military medals, the FCO added.
In a double U-turn the government firstly commissioned a medal – the Arctic Star, The medal was created following a long-running campaign to see the men who took part in the harsh sea campaign, formally recognised. But British veterans continued to fight for the right to receive a medal from the Russian government.
An early day motion was also tabled in the Commons with 42 MPs from across the political spectrum adding their name to it and calling for the medal to be awarded, with other veterans from across the country and their own MPs adding their voices to demands for recognition and it has recently been announced that UK rules preventing them from receiving the award have been put aside.
THE SECOND GOVERNMENT U-turn, now allows Second World War veterans of the Arctic Convoys to receive a medal from the Russian Government, It follows the British Government's decision to make an exception to the rules on the acceptance of medals from other countries. The Foreign Office lifted the restriction in time for President Putin of Russia's visit to London, during which he presented the medals to several veterans.
On Sunday, June 16, during a visit to the UK, Russian president Vladmir Putin presented the first of the Ushakov medals — named after an eighteenth century Russian Fleet commander — to British sailors.
He said: "We feel special respect for you and for your comrades in arms. And it’s not only about the huge volume of aid provided to the Soviet Union with your help during the Second World War; the reason is that you and your comrades in arms demonstrated unparalleled heroism during that struggle and you instilled in everybody’s minds hope that the victory over the Nazis was coming soon."
According to a spokesman, Prime Minister David Cameron felt it was "only right" the veterans were given the chance to receive and wear a "very high honour" from the Russian state "given all the sacrifices and hardship they undertook for our collective good".