Arctic Convoy

My Dad did that run a couple of times, also the Malta run.
The stories he told were amazing, including shooting the Captain when he was First Officer (it was a mistake) and being engaged in a surface battle with a U boat which thankfully was as useless at gunnery as my Dad was.
Glad to see they are getting recognition, they deserve it.
 
We visited the museum at Chatham, particularly to view the destroyer there which is the same class that my uncle served on during arctic convoys. It must have been unbelievably difficult to keep a good watch for enemy craft in an open bridge at the temperatures they endured. On that ship there is a high walkway between the two accommodation modules, built as an afterthought because the only other access, along the deck, was regularly swept by big waves. Disgraceful that no official recognition has been made until now.
 
A fitter I worked with at Vickers was awarded the GC whilst on Artic convoy duty. His ship was hit by a bomb that didn't go off - so he picked it up and carried topside and dropped it over the side - it went off just as the ship cleared it.

Peter.
 
All that plus having to chip the ice off to stop the ship going top heavy, using steam hoses to keep the guns from freezing, condensation soaking, etc ugh! Dad saw an aircraft ditch just ahead of the ship, they got the pilot out in minutes, by which time he had frozen to death.
 
'Bout bloody time too.

I think it's been mentioned on here before, but - although it's a work of fiction - Alistair McLean's "HMS Ulysses" gives an excellent picture of what life was like on the Russian convoys.
 
I attended a very moving ceremony in Newfoundland, where I was lucky enough to take part in a sail past, the vets standing on the wharf to take the salute. There are several yacht clubs in Maritime Canada who have lunches and races in their honour - seems more is done there than here. Not before time, I think. It's only too easy to see a bunch of old geezers, and not see back beyond the present.
 
Good but not enough IMHO.

Convoy duty, whether on a Warship escort, as MN crew or as RN guncrews on Merchant Vessels, warrants its own star and ribbon alongside 39/45 star, France & Germany Star, Burma Star etc. Minimum number of days at sea to qualify, of course, in line with other medals.
 
Absolutely agree. The award of an emblem isn't the same as the star and ribbon they so deserve for their bravery

It was a theatre of war, and the merchantmen who ran the convoys through the Atlantic year round in vulnerable ships were as instrumental as our well-honoured pilots in the final victory

They should have been honoured as such, but I fear the subject is now closed

I shall continue to wear the red duster in memoriam
 
well, about the subject being closed, that was what I liked about the ceremonies in Canada - they are looking forward as well, by having commemorative races. I know it's just an excuse for a race, but it does keep the memories alive, which is good.
 
I wish I had known about this, I would have tried to get my Grandad 1912-1943 the recognition he deserved. He was eventually killed off Mauritius after his ship The Empire Lake was torpedoed.

He was part of one of the Arctic convoys. I think, he was given leave following it and hence my dad was conceived. Three of his brothers also did the runs, but they were in the Royal Navy. The other three in the merchant, I do not know how my G. gran and grandad coped with all seven of their boys at sea. Sid was awarded the BEM for a heroic rescue of men in the water following a sinking off the Norwegian coast, pic below outside the palace.

Just before he died a few years back, he was awarded a medal from the Russian people for his services, my G. Aunt had to apply for it, very nice it is too.

Can anyone tell me, am I allowed to wear my Grandad's medals on remembrance Sunday, and , how do you wear medals?

Thanks for the link b.t.w.

29_Julian_Sid_Bill_Edna_palace.jpg

My G. Uncle Bill (RN) G.Grandad G.Aunt and G.U. Sid B.E.M. (RN)
proud nephew
 
Likewise I didn't know. I had an uncle - Merchant Service - on two Arctic Convoys he and his brother at sea through both WWs and a younger brother in RN in WW2. The son of one of the uncles was bound as an apprentice in a shore job by his father, when his father went back to sea, he went down to the docks on Teeside and signed on - torpedoed twice on first voyage came home and joined the RN !! Whenever a man in the Merchant service lost his ship his pay stopped immediately. These heroes were treated appallingly. I knew an retired policeman,who told me that his job at one time during the war was to be stationed at the oil terminal on the Isle of Grain to prevent any tanker crew from going ashore - turn around and back again facing the probability of a terrible death daily.
 
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Can anyone tell me, am I allowed to wear my Grandad's medals on remembrance Sunday, and , how do you wear medals?

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I'll stand to be corrected, but I believe you can wear his medals in his honour as a direct descendant. I believe the protocol is that you wear them on your right chest (rather than the left) to show that you weren't the recipient
 
The worst thing was, none of the seven brothers needed to sign on at all. At the outbreak of war they were all fishing. During their leave from wherever my gt. grandad would have them working on the family boats, he was a slave driver from all accounts.

My grandad was on 3 ships that were lost. He was boatswain on the Empress of Britain, the Empire Magpie and the Lake. I have never heard of them losing pay before, might explain why they worked all hours on returning home.

I do know that my grandma did receive a fairly decent war pension until the day she died as she never re-married after the loss of my grandad.

The guys are treated as badly today though and their families. Keep hearing of families being evicted from quarters as the father has been KIA. Or pay stopping on the day he dies leaving the wife and family in poverty.
 
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