One from today

[DaveB]

Hi Paul

He was MN.. the raggety arsed mob he used to call them His qualification for the medal was on his very first trip.. first ship on this post.. Luculus.. http://www.cbfsim.co.uk/cbfs_bb/viewtop ... &start=100

ATB
DaveB

[Paul K]

Interesting pictures Dave. I particularly like the Luculus, though I wouldn't have liked it with U-boats around ! Here's to your dad, though its disgraceful that he never got to wear the Arctic Star. Why does it take so bloody long for these things to be acknowledged as campaigns and a proper medal inaugurated ? It was a particularly hostile environment, even for normal duties, let alone trying to survive a sinking or a ditching, and they deserved something a lot earlier.

[DaveB]

Cheers Paul

I dunno really. The story is long and complicated. The Arctic Convoys were for a long time considered in the same theatre of war as the Atlantic for which I believe a medal was struck (and rightly so). However, the qualifying period made it such that the Arctic Convoys fell outside it so those who served only on ships on these convoys were left with nothing to show.. except of course from our Russian friends who've struck a number of medals since the war. Had it not been for constant campaigning over many years, neither the sailors and airmen who served on the Russian Convoys or Bomber Command crews (seeking their own recognition) would have been awarded anything but this has, at long last been sorted. The shame of it all is that it's taken so long for the UK to sort it's act out meaning a great many recipients are no longer with us. The delay in me getting my dad's medal was advised early this year by the MoD stating that all surviving veterans would get theirs first which is completely understandable

ATB
DaveB

[J0hn]

Indeed, Dave. I watched the documentaries and such-like over the years on TV (mostly on Yesterday/UKTV History) with a deal of disgust at the usual couldn't-actually-give-a-toss attitude of our politicians.

I was really pleased when I heard (last year?) that they at last would be recognised for their contribution. I seem to remember the report saying that the Russians celebrated them every year since the war.

[DaveB]

The Russians certainly celebrated the contribution by issuing medals every 10 years or so John. I have 1945-1985, 1945-1995 (a special 50years medal), 1945-2005 and after that, they were obviously worried that the numbers were thinning so the next was issued as 1945-2010. The final medal was struck a couple of years ago.. perhaps 36months.. and dad missed that. I sent a reply back to the embassy asking if it could be awarded posthumously and didn't receive a response so I guess the answer was no. I didn't expect a 'yes' to be honest so I wasn't disappointed. As far as I'm aware, there will be no more.. that particular chapter in history has finally closed

ATB
DaveB