General Chat

the Artic Medal - unfortunate that there are so few alive to receive it although it will be awarded posthumously. Brave men.

Yippee Chris, I'll tell me Dad. He has only been waiting since the campaign in the 1940's.


Julia in Derbyshire

Did you see the reason successive governments did not award it?

I agree Chris.. long overdue, same with Bomber Command.

Emma x

Long overdue,

How politics have dictated who should and shouldn't be recognised for services to their country in times of war as in this case is beyond me,




Roy

According to today's paper, it was not awarded before because in the light of the Cold War, Britain would have seen to be assisting the Russians. What a total cop out. They should have been ashamed of themselves, (successive governments).
Russia gave my Dad a medal years ago. Think it was the same year the lottery started.
The veterans (like my Dad) were told it had been lumped together with the Atlantic Campaign, as far as medals went.
Having had his 90th birthday this year, I hope he can hang on long enough to receive it. God, there are so few of them left

Julia in Derbyshire

I heard this on the news yesterday and I'm so very pleased that at long last, there is to be recognition. Dispicably late, to say the least :-)

The fact is these men fought and many laid down their lives for their country.
Simples. What's not to recognise?
Governments not wanting to upset others as usual :-P and forgetting where their loyalty should lie.

Karen

Well said Karen. I totally agree with you.


Julia in Derbyshire

And guess who says he doesn't want one.

Well,I always was defiant. Do you know how I go about applying for on?.I know where his bluenose is.

Sharon,

The following should be able to help.

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)
(Joint Personnel Administration Centre)
MOD Medal Office
Innsworth House
Imjin Barracks
Gloucester
GL3 1 HW
Email SPVA-Medals@mod.uk

Thank you.

Isn't there an association as well?

We took him to Chatham once where they have a destroyer like he one he was on and a man in a beret giving it all the telling.

The old man thought it was some sort of comedy cabaret.

Now,I really can't see what the advantage was of having an open bridge on a destroyer in the arctic.Same sort of class warfare as killed so many on the Somme I would surmise!

Hi Sharon,

Suggest you contact the following

Veterans Uk Tel;- 0800 169 2277

Not only will they advise you on this Medal but on a host of other things as well,

Pensions, Compensation , Welfare Benefits etc.

Let me know how you get on. If you need other information I'll try and help.

Stephen

Thank you.

I don't think I need anything else, SSAFA came to see us when he first had his stroke and the Burma Star Association have been very generous but I don't suppose there are many to spend their funds on now.

It is good to have the information together on one thread should I need it.

Stephen, I am following your instructions to Sharron, also.

Many Thanks

Julia in Derbyshire

An interesting article on the above......
http://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured-article/breaking-news-a-medal-at-last-for-heroes-of-wwii-russian-convoys.html

Hope you are successful in your applications Julia and Sharron, and I sincerely hope all the other gents who deserve this medal have someone to help them :-) as they must be so elderly by now .

Karen

I think one article I read recently stated there were only 400 of these marvellous people still alive - out of the many thousands that braved probably the most dangerous convoy route, ever.

Glad to see there's recognition for Bomber Command as well. Too late for my uncle, though, RIP.

Sharron - think that most bridges at the time of the century in both Merchant and Royal were open.

I was a boy in the war-time years. The fighting didn't bother me much, but the pictures and newsreels of the Arctic convoys was frightening. God bless them all.
True heroes.

Happy days

The Atlantic Star was awarded to RN all ranks who served 6 months or more on convoys including those to Russia. The Russian medal was only awarded to those who actually landed in Murmansk, Archangel etc which rarely included Andrew Miller.

I thought that the new medal was only for those still alive. I have my father'ss ervice record I shall certainly apply if possible.

Snorkers, good oh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey7bmCZM67I