In the midst of WWII, tens of thousands of men were forced to endure what Churchill described as the ‘worst journey in the world’. In sub-zero temperatures, the servicemen of the Arctic Convoys valiantly fought to keep the supply lines with Russia open. It is impossible to envisage how the Red Army would have continued its fight against the Nazis without the heroic actions of these men.
Only 200 of the Arctic Convoy veterans survive today, and yet they are still fighting to gain the recognition they have long deserved from this country. Yesterday in Parliament, I held a debate in Westminster Hall to urge the government to finally honour the veterans of the Arctic Convoys with a medal.
For the Arctic campaign remains the only major maritime campaign of the Second World War without a specific medal. Successive governments have, in opposition, recognised the deep injustice of this situation but yet no medal has been granted.
Over the years, the number of veterans has dwindled, while the MoD has hidden behind protocol to deny them recognition, with their most recent review ending fruitlessly after sixteen months. Yet once again, in yesterday’s debate, the weaknesses of the arguments against a medal were apparent.
For the Atlantic Star, which the veterans can ostensibly receive, honours a campaign conducted over 800 miles away, and requires a length of service that no man could conceivably complete in the perilous conditions of the Arctic Circle. Nor should notions of precedent defeat the veterans’ claims. The Minister’s response, which implied that we should not question the wisdom of the previous medal settlements, mistakenly assumed a level of infallibly in our predecessors. As he is well aware, the issuing of the Canal Medal indicated that existing rules can be revised when earlier settlements are shown to contain omissions.
The breadth of cross-party support in yesterday’s debate further underlined the merits of the veterans’ case, with numerous interventions also echoing the depth of feeling for this issue among the wider public.
When I questioned the prime minister on the Arctic Convoys back in January, it was clear that he too understood the public support for the veterans’ campaign. He confirmed his commitment to looking into the case of the Arctic Convoy veterans at a meeting at Downing Street last week. Their calls for recognition will now be scrutinised by an independent medal review.
While I welcome the opportunity for the veterans’ case to be heard, yesterday’s debate demonstrated once more that time is not on their side. The handful of veterans who attended the debate, now all in their late 80s and 90s, know how little time is left.
These heroic men have waited almost 70 years for recognition from the country they served so courageously. Now is not the time for delay or protocol, but for action. This is what the review must now rapidly deliver, to ensure that these men are honoured before it is too late.
Comments
Jim Green / December 07 2011 8:05pm
My father-in-law was on Arctic Convoys but has passed away, always the same with Governments too little too late. All they want to do is sit down and have meetings. Why doesn't somebody have the BALLS to make a decision before the last of these heroic men fade into history.
Paul Norton / December 07 2011 8:41pm
Sirs,
My father served on Russian Convoy's aboard H.M.S. Sheffield, he sadly is no longer with us but he often spoke of the freezing cold conditions that they endured. I was brought up looking at the photo's of the Shiny Sheff covered in ice. I have also read the book H.M.S. Sheffield by RonaId Bassett that gives a graphic account of the convoys, perhaps the government should read it. I myself served in the Andrew and I remember how the cold seemed to be attracted to the metal clad of the ship, as Ms Dinenage knows the previous member for Gosport spent more on a duck house than it would cost to honour these gallant old veterans.
So give the final 200 a proper Christmas present and give them the honour they richly deserve.
Paul
Linda Ball / December 13 2011 6:16pm
My father, who has passed away, served on HMS Bellona, & completed several Russian Convoys. There are very few veterans left. Is it too much to ask for recognition for the horrendous trips they made serving this country? It would mean so much to them, & cost a small price. I agree with Jim Green - unfortunately sadly, the last of these heroic heroes will not be here for many more years.