Hello again Dave, I 'm glad to hear that your wife's father got his medal from the Russians for the part he played in the Arctic Convoys during WW2. I was impressed at the speedy progress you made in your dealings with the Russians. While our own government is still arguing the toss about the issue. Here is a interesting extract I found in Hansard concerning the debate about awarding a British Arctic Convoy medal. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040609/debtext/40609-16.htm I found this comment under ; *9 Jun 2004 : Column 320* , very pertinent. " The armchair warriors of the MOD are quite good at awarding themselves medals when the time comes, .... " Which reminded me that I had noticed in a recent photo taken of Harry Wales, currently a cadet at Sandhurst, that he was wearing a ribbon on his left breast. I wondered what that was for and who gave it to him. When the MoD finally backed down ( after nearly 50 years ) over the Suez Campaign medal, they had to cancel out all their previous long winded rhetorical arguments based on protocol, etc,etc As this quote from the this BBC article demonstrates : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2982182.stm quote: " Rules governing medals say they cannot usually be awarded more than five years after a conflict, but a committee said special circumstances meant they could now be struck. " One wonders what the special circumstances were. and : " Graham Allen MP told BBC News On line it was a triumph over "mean pettifogging" by the MoD." The current stalling over the issue of an Arctic Convoy medal by the MoD is based on exactly the same, " mean pettifogging ", process They even use same type of excuse, "*... MoD confirmed the British veterans would not be allowed to accept any medals because it does not fall within the rules of such presentations. " * See the full quote in the article on this web site : http://www.tca2000.co.uk/2002.HTM. quote: *"...Hundreds of British veterans of the Arctic convoys of the Second World War are to miss out on medals from Russia because the Ministry of Defense says it will not allow it. Moscow wants to award the 1,600 surviving Royal and Merchant Navy sailors with bravery medals for their part in keeping supply lines open on the Eastern front. They (the MoD) have no idea of the hell we went through . The veterans are furious they have been denied the honor but officials here say it breaks the rules, and the medals cannot be given. It is understood the medals would be the same as those presented to Soviet sailors. But the MoD confirmed the British veterans would not be allowed to accept any medals because it does not fall within the rules of such presentations. " * Thanks Dave for the contact details for the Russian Embassy in Australia. All the best. Patrick. justme wrote: > /Hi Patrick,/ > // > /Long time no speak./ > // > /Saw your posting on Rootsweb WWII re: the above medal. There seems to > be some confusion regarding these medals./ > // > /The Russian Govt. have awarded the "40th/50th/60th Anniversary of > Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"./ > // > /We obtained an issue of both the 50th and the 60th Anniversary medal > for my wife's father who served on Arctic Convoys with the RNPS. He is > delighted with them./ > // > /However, and I quote from a letter sent by an Attache at the Embassy > of the Russian Federation, 2 June 2003:-/ > // > /*"The Russian Authorities are considering the issue of awarding > veterans of the Arctic Convoys the Medal 'For the Defence of the > Soviet Arctic', as well as assessing all the possible legal and > technical implications such a decision could have, taking into account > that this Medal initially was intended exclusively for Soviet Nationals.*/ > /**/ > /*As soon as the decision will be taken by the Russian Govt. and we > receive official instructions from Moscow, the Embassy will > appropriately approach the competent British Authorities and veteran > associations."*/ > // > /You posted a link to the page illustrating this medal 3 May 2003 on > Rootsweb WWII, (on the Russianwarrior website.)/ > // > /Regarding the Anniversary of Victory.... medal :-/ > // > / > /We wrote on my f-i-law Chris's behalf to the UK Embassy of the > Russian Federation inquiring about the 50th Anniversary medal./ > // > /Chris sailed on 3 Russian Convoys that we know of, as well as > Operation FB from Kola Inlet, and his ship, HMT Cape Mariato (ex-Hull > fishing trawler) was in or around North Russia from mid-Sept 1942 to > early Jan 1943./ > // > /The Embassy wrote back and requested confirmation from the RN Medals > Office of his/the ship's service on the convoys as well a letter of > application showing his full name, permanent address and phone number > (if applicable) ./ > // > /We sent RN Medals a photocopy of Chris's Service Certificate listing > his ships, and what ref. data we had on the convoys we know his ship > sailed on whilst he was on her./ > // > /We received the confirmation letter back within a couple of days and > sent it with the applic. letter to the Embassy, and the medal turned > up Recorded Delivery, with a certificate in Russian and a verified > translation of the wording into English, along with their > congratulations. They add that the medal is a keepsake, and may not be > worn. (This has subsequently turned out not to be the case, I > understand, the issue is where it's worn)./ > // > /Relevant addresses:- / > // > /Embassy of the Russian Federation,/ > /6-7, Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QP./ > /0207-229-3628 / > // > /RN Medals Office,/ > /Room 1068,/ > /Centurion Building, Grange Road, Gosport, Hants PO13 9XA/ > /023-9270-2003 (I spoke to a Mrs Hilary Williams. V. helpful lady.)/ > > We subsequently received the 60th Anniv. medal as well. > > Not sure about the Russian Embassy arrangements in Australia, assume > you would have to contact them, although as your father was British, > you may have to contact the London Embassy. > > Hope this is of some help. Please note the changed email address > below, it was previously chrisndavegen-at-dpennell.globalnet.co.uk. > > Good hunting and all the best, > / > /Dave P > East Sussex UK > justme@davepee.plus.com <mailto:justme@davepee.plus.com>/