Archived decisions

COUNTY COUNCIL - 1 APRIL 2004

NOTICE OF MOTION

1. MEDALS FOR HEROES OF THE ARCTIC CONVOYS

Councillor J. G. L. Wall to move:

    This Council is mindful that the veterans of arctic convoys demand recognition for Royal Navy sailors and merchant seamen who served in the Russian convoys in the Second World War.

    Of the 20,000 naval heroes, an estimated 2,000 are still alive, but like their merchant comrades, they have never been given a campaign medal in honour of their extraordinary bravery.

    They ran the gauntlet of submarine and air attacks through subzero conditions to take munitions, food, fuel and other vital supplies to Russia.

    These efforts probably saved Russia from being defeated, which would have made an allied victory almost impossible.

    But in 1946, the arctic campaign veterans were scandalously overlooked when medals were handed out, because Russia had become an enemy instead of an ally.

    Veterans of the campaign started their push for a medal in 1997, saying the cold war was over and it was clear that Britain and Russia were no longer enemies. But the men who served in the arctic were told they could have the Atlantic Star, a medal for a different campaign.

    In a further snub, most were unable to qualify for the Atlantic Star because it had a six month continuous service requirement, which applied to crews of just 6 of the 670 ships that sailed the arctic convoys.

    All other Second World War campaign medals had a qualification period of just one day.

Years of wrong can be overturned by a simple intervention from the Prime Minister. The campaign demands that he asks the Honours and Decorations Committee in Whitehall to recommend the Queen to order the creation of a new Arctic Medal.

    This is above all an issue about how Britain treats its heroes. The Prime Minister must act now to end almost 60 years of injustice.

    Hampshire County Council therefore supports the Campaign by Arctic Veterans to persuade the Government to award a medal for the harshest sea campaign of the Second World War.

    Furthermore, this Council agrees to send a letter to the Prime Minister to ask him to intervene on this issue because of the continued intransigence of the Ministry of Defence.

    The Council also would encourage as many people as possible to sign the petition supporting this campaign.