Our seamen richly deserve their Arctic convoy medals
IT is gratifying to learn that the Coalition Government at long last has recognised the outstanding bravery of the men who sailed on the Arctic convoys ("Arctic convoy veterans to get medal at last", The Herald, December 20).
IT is gratifying to learn that the Coalition Government at long last has recognised the outstanding bravery of the men who sailed on the Arctic convoys (\"Arctic convoy veterans to get medal at last\", The Herald, December 20).
Custom byline text:
One of these convoys, PQ18 in 1942, was under constant attack for 15 days from 225 German aircraft and 36 U-boats. The crews of the ships were continually at action stations and, for most of the time, were unable even to change their clothes. Incredibly, four merchant seamen from the Western Isles of Scotland were killed or decorated for bravery on four of the ships leading the convoy columns: Finlay Ferguson, Harris, killed on SS Empire Stevenson (South Shields); Captain Murdo MacLeod, Lewis, awarded the DSC on SS Empire Snow (London) – later in the war he was lost in the Indian Ocean on SS Fort Buckingham (London); Captain Hugh MacLeod, Tiree, awarded the DSC on SS Dan-y-Bryn (London); and Bosun Donald MacAskill, Uist, awarded the DSM on SS Temple Arch (London).
We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
Our seamen richly deserve their Arctic convoy medals
IT is gratifying to learn that the Coalition Government at long last has recognised the outstanding bravery of the men who sailed on the Arctic convoys ("Arctic convoy veterans to get medal at last", The Herald, December 20).
One of these convoys, PQ18 in 1942, was under constant attack for 15 days from 225 German aircraft and 36 U-boats. The crews of the ships were continually at action stations and, for most of the time, were unable even to change their clothes. Incredibly, four merchant seamen from the Western Isles of Scotland were killed or decorated for bravery on four of the ships leading the convoy columns: Finlay Ferguson, Harris, killed on SS Empire Stevenson (South Shields); Captain Murdo MacLeod, Lewis, awarded the DSC on SS Empire Snow (London) – later in the war he was lost in the Indian Ocean on SS Fort Buckingham (London); Captain Hugh MacLeod, Tiree, awarded the DSC on SS Dan-y-Bryn (London); and Bosun Donald MacAskill, Uist, awarded the DSM on SS Temple Arch (London).
Commenting & Moderation
We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
MOST READ
SPONSORED LINKS
MOST COMMENTED