Topic: A bit frivolous, given what's gone before - but no disrespect.

[tim]

Just had to show that, if you wait 64 years, your service to your Country might be appreciated? Thought it was rather pretty??
Nothing clever, no boast, an emblem not a medal - God bless the MoD  - fresh out of medals!!
We just happened to pass through a couple of times, whilst the Royal Navy & Merchant Navy did the run for years. Just think on the PQ Convoys?

But wear it? Only the 5000 recipients would recognise it. And we don't meet many of those in the Co-op. And that's about as far as we go these days!!

[cambourne7]

it looks quite large, is it metal??

[tim]

Large? MoD give away something large?? No - less than a 20p coin. A true lapel badge.

Metal? Enamel on brassy stuff. But quite sweet!

[cambourne7]

i think it looks a little russian, its nice but i do think they could have done better. Maybe a polar bear on a star or something :-)

[Palustris]

My father was on the Russian convoys. His ship was a converted trawler. They were supposed to be Search and Rescue, but were under orders not to stop as they would have been sunk. They sailed from Liverpool to Halifax in Nova Scotia, then to Iceland and across the Archangel and Murmansk. They were then iced in and spent the Winter stuck in Russia, before returning to Liverpool and doing it all over again. He was on the convoy which was the one which was most attacked becasue they had to sail too close to where the German airforce could reach them. He NEVER EVER talked about it. Other parts of the war serving in Canada and so on, yes. Going to France 15 times on and just after D day, but never landing, yes, BUT the Arctic, no way. When the Russians were handing out medals for this duty he would not even apply.  He would not have accepted that one either.

[wellingtons]

I learnt in my 20's that my grandfather had been on a ship that was sunk in the war.

Nothing startling in that, other than that he was one of very few survivors and that he couldn't swim!

[greyhound]

But wear it? Only the 5000 recipients would recognise it. And we don't meet many of those in the Co-op. And that's about as far as we go these days!!

Remembrance Day Parade?

I wear my Dad's medals then (on the right-hand side of course), which he never claimed in his (too short) lifetime.  It was only three years ago that I found out I could apply for them as his next-of-kin.  I was thrilled to get them and am proud to have them, especially his Burma Star.

[Kea]

My Dad also couldn't swim and was a survivor when his ship was torpeoded in the Indian Ocean. He was on his way home (NZ) after 5 years in the middle east and italy with his leg in plaster, he says his army blanket saved his life he used it as a float. They were adrift in a lifeboat for 10 days.

[tim]

Amazing what some people survived. As if war wasn't enough? Plaster? One of our boys broke his back out there & was in whole body plaster. We had to sleep in our clothes all the way home, in case we had to get him to the boats.

Exactly that, Cambourne - Russia it was!!

Yes, Eric - we too were stuck in the ice, off Archangel, but for only 2 days, while the 3 icebreakers - including The Lenin - ploughed back & forth, trying to clear a channel for the convoy. Meanwhile, a stowaway walked across the ice & boarded!

See my PM - when I can get it done!! I do so wish parents had spoken of their doings - I knew virtually nothing of my Father's very eventful war.

[katynewbie]

 Many congratulations Tim! Nice to have an "emblem" even if it is a bit after the fact!

 ;)

[Merry Tiller]

I'm rather pissed off that I haven't heard anything, my Dad was on the Russian convoys and  Malta, not to mention steaming round & round in the Atlantic while prisoners of war were fed and brought back to a reasonable state of health before bringing them home from S Africa. If he was still alive he would say the medal is meaningless to him but I on the other hand would like to see a little recognition for a very brave man from the ungrateful *fatherless children*

[Yellow Petals]

Nice one, Mr T  :)

[MrsKP]

well done Tim.  nice piece.  wish i knew more about a lot of things.

[tim]

 MT - if he was on the convoys, you can get the Arctic Emblem. I don't think it's automatic, though.

If you want an Application Form, go to Google:
"Veterans or next of kin wishing to claim the Arctic Emblem should do so by completing the attached form as fully as possible and returning it to the address shown.  If there is uncertainty about details of service, information can be obtained from Ministry of Defence archives; details are given under “Service Records” on the Veterans Agency website."

Just thought, Eric - I could well have been on the CAM Ship escorting your Father to Halifax - if it was May-June '42. Spooky thought!!

By the way, remember that any of the 10,000,000 who served in any capacity can get a Veterans' Badge? Quite nice!

[Merry Tiller]

Thanks Tim, I will certainly follow this up
Congrats by the way

[tim]

Congrats & all that - no great deal - we were just out there doing what came naturally - fight for the 'right'!!

And we survived.

[MrsKP]

Someone recommended Her Privates We by Frederick Manning as an enlightening read Tim.  I guess you know it although it was one before you.

It landed on the doorstep tonight, so I'll retire early and start it later.

[tim]

See what happens when you go to Ireland??

[Merry Tiller]

Congrats & all that - no great deal - we were just out there doing what came naturally - fight for the 'right'!!

And we survived.

OK, I know what you mean, nevertheless thanks are due to everyone who did "what came naturally"