From the Dec. 21, 2012, Leicestershire (UK) Mercury "Second World War Arctic convoy veterans honoured at last" by Dan Martin.
Many are now happy that the government has at long last decided to award medals to those who served on the Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union, so vital in keeping that country in the war. Many feel this should have happened decades a go.
These brave men brought weapons and food to the Soviet Union and there are an estimated 400 still alive in the United Kingdom
One of them is Bill Merry, 89, of Leicester, who said, "The Russians gave us medals but our government would not." He served on the HMS Westcott as a stoker from 1943-1945 and was on 14 convoys between Ireland, Scotland and the Russian ports of Murmansk and Archangel.
They braved freezing temperatures and 22 hours of darkness. "Always at the back of your mind, was the thought a U-boat might be about to sink us. It was hard and frightening."
Arctic Convoy veterans wear white berets at functions to signify their service.
These men risked as much as the soldiers and sailors on the front lines, plus having the added prospect of having to jump into freezing waters. In addition, there is the thought of a torpedo hitting you while you're on an oil tanker or ammunition ship. definitely not something I would relish.
I believe more honor should be given to the U.S. Merchant Marine who faced similar situations.
--GreGen
My Cooter's History Blog has become about 80% World War II anyway, so I figured to start a blog specific to it, especially since we're commemorating its 70th anniversary and we are quickly losing this "Greatest Generation." The quote is taken from Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Curre, who was on the USS Tennessee that day. He died Dec. 7, 2011, seventy years to the day. His photo is below at right.
Friday, February 6, 2015
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