Forrest said : " There has been a campaign for a medal specifically for taking part in the Arctic convoys in WW2. " He refers the reader to : http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/medals_folder/medals_artic_convoy.htm This article makes it quite clear that although we Brits still have n't got round to issuing a specific medaL to British seamen, including those in the Royal Navy, who took part in Artic convoys during WW2, the Russians have. Initially, the British government was completely against the offer made by the Russians to award British seamen with Russian medals for taking part in the Artic convoys, but eventually they reluctantly permitted the medals to be awarded by the Russians. As these two articles show, the Russian medals were very well received by the recipients. Here is an article from . " The Scotsman " dated 10th. May 2005, " entitled , " Russians pay tribute to brave Scots who formed Arctic lifeline " http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1291&id=502662005 There is a picture of the Russian medal in this article from the, " Tameside Advertiser ". http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/85/85667_russian_medal_for_convoy_war_hero.html While the MoD continues to procrastinate on this matter, **The Russian Convoy Club of the Merchant Navy Association shows on their Merchants Navy Medal web page a commemorative medal, called the Artic Campaign Medal which Artic Convoy veterans or their next of kin can purchase and wear, provided they conform to the restrictions imposed on the wearer by the MoD. http://www.mna.org.uk/medals.htm The commemorative medals only exist because the MoD refuses to issue official medals to veterans and those of us who served our country as National Servicemen. Interestingly, the Suez Canal Medal shown on the above web site is now redundant because the MoD recently backed down and finally issued a campaign medal to those who took part in that war, including National Service men. Mind you, it took the British government nearly 50 years to actually do it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2982182.stm However, in spite of similar requests for a National Service medal to be issued to we Brits who served as National Servicemen, the British government still refuses to issue one. Which became even more annoying when the Australian government issued a National Service medal to its , ' Nashos ' in 2001 which, would you believe, was approved of by our Queen. My father served in the Royal Navy on the Destroyer, " HMS Campbell " during WW2. The ship's Battle Honors shows, Artic 1942. He certainly did n't get a medal from the British government for his Artic service. However after I discovered recently that my son-in law' s father, who was also in the Royal Navy, got a Russian Artic convoy medal I intend to contact the Russian government to see if my dad is entitled to one of their Artic Convoy commemorative medals. http://home.it.net.au/~lambeth/campbell.htm LEST WE FORGET. Patrick. Perth, Western Australia.

Yes, but it is made clear that the Arctic Convoy (not Artic, unless you drive a truck!) veterans were entitled to the Atlantic Star. I once meet New Zealand poet/publisher Denis Glover who was in the Navy on the Arctic convoys (and postwar used to go to the Russian embassy and drink up large). See his autiobiography "Hot Water Sailor". Several groups wanted an special medal for their part in the war, eg for the RAF bombing of Germany (which was covered by the 1939-45 Star or the Aircrew Europe Star). Complicated by having the Dieppe Bar for a raid, and the Hong Kong Bar (but not a Singapore or Malaya Bar, though participants there would be eligible for the Pacific Bar). For WWII British Commonwealth Medals see the Canadian Veterans website (go to Military Medals and Decorations then War Medals 1939-1991): http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/cmdp Yours, John Wilson > This article makes it quite clear that although we Brits still haven't got round to issuing a specific medaL to British seamen, including those in the Royal Navy, who took part in Artic convoys during WW2, the Russians have. Initially, the British government was completely against the offer made by the Russians to award British seamen with Russian medals for taking part in the Artic convoys, but eventually they reluctantly permitted the medals to be awarded by the Russians. > > As these two articles show, the Russian medals were very well received by the recipients. > > Here is an article from . " The Scotsman " dated 10th. May 2005, " entitled , " Russians pay tribute to brave Scots who formed Arctic lifeline " > > http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1291&id=502662005 > > There is a picture of the Russian medal in this article from the "Tameside Advertiser" > http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/85/85667_russian_medal_for_convoy _war_hero.html > > While the MoD continues to procrastinate on this matter, **The Russian Convoy Club of the Merchant Navy Association shows on their Merchants Navy Medal web page a commemorative medal, called the Artic Campaign Medal which Artic Convoy veterans or their next of kin can purchase and wear, provided they conform to the restrictions imposed on the wearer by the MoD. >

Yes, you are correct, veterans were entitled to the Atlantic star but in the matter of medals as you well know there are some special circumstances which, in the opinion of many people, deserves a special medal, in this case, an Arctic Convoy medal. http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsRussianConvoys.htm You appear not to agree. So be it. However, an Arctic Convoy Campaign has been set up in an attempt to persuade the MoD to change its opposition to the award of an Artcic Convoy Medal. Here is an interesting comment about the Arctic Convoy medal campaign under the heading : *NEWSFLASH - 24 NOVEMBER 2004* http://www.mikekemble.com/ww2/merchantnavyintro.html As it says in the article, the Arctic Convoy medal campaign has been in progress for over 7 years. It also mentions in the article that the long drawn out campaign for a Suez Canal zone medal has finally been successful. It took the British government nearly 50 years.to get that one right. http://www.paulburstow.libdems.org.uk/news/224.html I 've already mentioned elsewhere that while Australia has issued its, " Nashos " with a National Service medal, the British government has n't awarded a medal to we Brits who did our National Service. While researching the matter of a missed National Service Medal, I found out that the British Legion in conjunction with Awards Productions, has made available a range of commemorative medals, including an Arctic Campaign Medal, a National Service Medal, a Hong Kong Service and a Bomber Command medal as well as several other medals. Their full range of commemorative medals is on their web site at : http://www.awardmedals.com/award/awardfrm.htm However, if I wanted to apply for the two medals to which I am entitled, the National Service Medal and the Hong Kong Service medal I would have to pay for them unlike the Aussie, " Nashos " who got their medal free from their grateful government. Also, because my medals were not awarded to me by the British Government, there is a MoD directive, which says that I cannot wear them alongside official awards and decorations or on official uniforms. The British Legion is trying to get this directive changed but they have not so far been successful. Re matters of gramme. Thank you for pointing out my spelling error, viz. Arctic and not Arcrtic. I noticed that in your text you say, ." Several groups wanted an special medal... " I was taught that the article, ' an ' was only to be used before a word starting with a vowel, other wise, the article, 'a' is to be used. Of course that rule may be different in, The Land of the Long White Cloud You also said that. " .... but not a Singapore or Malaya Bar, though participants there would be eligible for the Pacific Bar. " That sounds a bit odd because neither of these places is near the Pacific ocean . You also mention that the Atlantic Star existed for men who sailed on the Russian Arctic Convoys but looking at maps of that part of the Arctic which convoys crossed to get to the ports in northern Russia such as Archangel, . it seems that the convoys covered areas that were not part of the Atlantic ocean. Regards. Patrick. Perth,Western Australia.