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| WW2 Arctic Convoy veterans to be awarded Russian Ushakov medal | WW2 Arctic Convoy veterans to be awarded Russian Ushakov medal |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The Russian embassy is honouring 30 World War Two veterans in Southampton for their part in transporting crucial supplies to Russia. | |
| Defence attaché Capt Oleg Kornienko will present Ushakov medals to the men of the Arctic Convoys. | Defence attaché Capt Oleg Kornienko will present Ushakov medals to the men of the Arctic Convoys. |
| Able seaman Charles Lewis, 91, from Calmore, Hampshire said he was "honoured and delighted". | |
| The Foreign Office initially did not allow Russia to honour the veterans as it broke the rules on foreign medals. | The Foreign Office initially did not allow Russia to honour the veterans as it broke the rules on foreign medals. |
| The Russian embassy said the convoys allowed Russian soldiers to defeat the Germans on the Eastern Front. | The Russian embassy said the convoys allowed Russian soldiers to defeat the Germans on the Eastern Front. |
| Mr Lewis said: "I certainly don't see myself as a hero - far from it - and I think all my friends and colleagues, many of whom sadly are no longer with us, would regard us as simply doing our bit for the war effort. | |
| "Although I have to say that Churchill's famous quote about the Arctic convoys' missions through the North Sea in winter as being 'the worst journey on earth' did strike a chord - then and now." | |
| What were Arctic Convoys? | What were Arctic Convoys? |
| • They consisted of vessels which travelled from Britain to northern Russia to resupply the Soviet Union during World War II | • They consisted of vessels which travelled from Britain to northern Russia to resupply the Soviet Union during World War II |
| • Under constant threat of attack by German U-boats and aircraft, the craft also had to deal with severe cold, storms, and ice floes | • Under constant threat of attack by German U-boats and aircraft, the craft also had to deal with severe cold, storms, and ice floes |
| • By May 1945, the Arctic route had claimed 104 merchant and 16 military vessels. Thousands of Allied seamen lost their lives | • By May 1945, the Arctic route had claimed 104 merchant and 16 military vessels. Thousands of Allied seamen lost their lives |
| Source: National Maritime Museum | Source: National Maritime Museum |
| Minister-Councillor Alexander Kramarenko from the Russian Embassy said: "It [the ceremony] is done for them because they have been expecting for a very long time to be recognized. | Minister-Councillor Alexander Kramarenko from the Russian Embassy said: "It [the ceremony] is done for them because they have been expecting for a very long time to be recognized. |
| "It is done for us as it was important for us. | "It is done for us as it was important for us. |
| "The arctic convoy was a material expression of our wartime alliance and they provided weapons and ammunition that armed us to defeat the Germans on the Eastern front. | "The arctic convoy was a material expression of our wartime alliance and they provided weapons and ammunition that armed us to defeat the Germans on the Eastern front. |
| "We and Britain were in it together." | "We and Britain were in it together." |
| More than 3,000 men died during the maritime campaign that Winston Churchill was said to have called the "worst journey in the world". | More than 3,000 men died during the maritime campaign that Winston Churchill was said to have called the "worst journey in the world". |
| The Russian Embassy wrote to survivors in May 2012 that it intended to award them with the Medal of Ushakov as a symbol of the country's gratitude. | The Russian Embassy wrote to survivors in May 2012 that it intended to award them with the Medal of Ushakov as a symbol of the country's gratitude. |
| But the move was blocked by the Foreign Office as its rules stated British soldiers could not receive a foreign medal if the act happened more than five years ago. | But the move was blocked by the Foreign Office as its rules stated British soldiers could not receive a foreign medal if the act happened more than five years ago. |
| The British Government created the Arctic Star in 2012 following a long campaign for the convoy veterans to be recognised. | The British Government created the Arctic Star in 2012 following a long campaign for the convoy veterans to be recognised. |
| But campaigners believed veterans should still be able to receive the Russian accolade. | But campaigners believed veterans should still be able to receive the Russian accolade. |
| The Foreign Office allowed an "exception to the rules" last year and President Vladimir Putin presented the first medals during his visit to London on 16 June 2013. | The Foreign Office allowed an "exception to the rules" last year and President Vladimir Putin presented the first medals during his visit to London on 16 June 2013. |
| The Ushakov medal is awarded to sailors who have displayed courage in the course of defending Russia or its interests. | The Ushakov medal is awarded to sailors who have displayed courage in the course of defending Russia or its interests. |