Arctic Convoy medals

Welsh veterans of the World War Two Arctic Convoys are being presented with bravery medals following a long campaign.

National

Arctic heroes: What did they do?

Today the first Arctic Star medals and Bomber Command Clasps will be presented to veterans by the Prime Minister.

  • Veterans undertook what was dubbed "the worst journey in the world", delivering supplies to Russia
  • More than 3,000 seamen died on the journey, which made sure Germany had to fight a war on two fronts
  • The seamen delivered ships which carried crucial supplies, including 13,000 tanks, 22,000 aircraft and 417,000 motor vehicles
  • Some 58 of the 811 merchant ships involved were sunk by German U-boats, battleships and Luftwaffe bombers
  • With freezing temperatures of minus 20 degrees, anyone who fell into the water died within three minutes
  • The men covered a 1,500 to 2,000-mile run across the North and Barents Seas, one of the deadliest convoy routes during the war

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Veterans to receive bravery medals

medals
The medals will be presented at a ceremony in Downing Street Credit: ITV News

Three Welshmen are among 65 Arctic Convoy and Bomber Command veterans set to be presented with medals to mark their service today.

Terrence Collelly and Oliver Lindsay, both from Cardiff, and James Row, from Bridgend, will receive their medals from Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street.

The Ministry of Defence says that to a quarter of a million veterans and the families of those who have died could be eligible to receive the new awards in recognition of their unique contribution protecting Britain during World War Two.