VETERANS who risked their lives as part of Arctic convoys during the Second World War have won fresh support for a campaign for official recognition of their efforts.
The surviving seamen were joined at a reception in Glasgow yesterday by Veterans Minister Keith Brown, who said the Scottish Government was determined to make further calls on UK ministers to award them medals marking their vital role.
More than 3000 seamen died taking part in Operation Dervish as they helped deliver supplies to Russia in what Winston Churchill said was "the most dangerous journey in the world", dodging German U-boats in horrendous weather conditions.
Their ships sailed from Loch Ewe in the north-west Highlands to re-supply the Soviet ports of Murmansk and Archangel.
So far the UK Government has resisted calls to award those involved a dedicated campaign medal.
Among those campaigning for recognition is Jock Dempster, 84, from Dunbar, East Lothian, who lied about his age at the time so he could sail on a tanker taking fuel to Murmansk.
He said: "We played a critical role and the Russians never cease telling us we played a critical role. It's more than our own successive governments have done.
"Other people received campaign medals for campaigns they were on. The ones I feel sorry for are the families. They do not have a medal of that campaign to pass on to the grandchildren, that's what annoys me more than anything else."
Mr Brown said: "I first met Jock Dempster more than three years ago when he asked me to get involved.
"He reminded me that I said I couldn't promise anything but I would do what I could.
"We will continue to put pressure on the UK Government. I have written to MoD ministers asking that the valour of Arctic Convoy veterans is recognised and acknowledged.
"I hope they listen."
The campaign has been backed by Prime Minister David Cameron who, in January 2011, said the "incredibly harsh conditions" the veterans survived in order to deliver the supplies that kept the Soviet Union going should mean they received medals.
The MoD said several thousand seamen who served on the Arctic Convoys had already received the Atlantic Star campaign medal but added a review was under way looking at the rules governing the award of military campaign medals.
While at the event in Glasgow's Trades Hall, Mr Brown, who was joined by representatives of the Russian Consulate, also presented a £5000 donation to the veterans for a proposed Arctic Convoy Museum on the banks of Loch Ewe.
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