One of the last surviving veterans of the Second World War Arctic Convoys has been given a unique tapestry depicting the treacherous trips.
Tom Lennie received an Arctic Star medal for his role aboard HMS Red Mill in maintaining supply links to British Allies on the Eastern Front.
He and wife Nancy, both 90, were given artist Katie Russell’s specially commissioned work by their three sons to mark their 65th wedding anniversary.
The tapestry was part of a series of 10 pieces made for the Arctic Convoys Men and Ice exhibition during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which featured Mr Lennie’s memories of time at sea.
Mr Lennie, of Newburgh, said: “We were pleasantly surprised to be given the tapestry. It’s a very unique gift.
“I remember thinking to myself how unusual and lovely they were when I visited the exhibition.”
He was among 6,000 visitors to the show in St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, which raised nearly £2,500 for Legion Scotland.
He said: “Being part of an event like that really brought back a lot of memories, especially when I saw a photo of myself in my Russian Convoy Club uniform and a picture of my ship, the HMS Red Mill.
“I’m now one of only a handful of Arctic veterans left who can tell our story, and that is why the exhibition was so important.
“People need to remember what went before them and the sacrifices that people made for their country.”
He recalled: “The Arctic journeys were very cruel, stormy and cold.
“We had to sleep in our uniforms to keep ourselves warm at night, but we had an important job to do so you just had to get on with it.”
Mr Lennie was 18 years old when he joined the Royal Navy, with dreams of seeing the world.
During the convoys his ship was hit by two torpedoes on the way to Russia.
Many men were lost and the ship began to sink before the watertight doors were shut.
HMS Red Mills was also the first ship to dock in Nagasaki after the atom bomb was dropped.
Mr Lennie said: “Everything was flattened and we were supposed to pick up prisoners of war.
“But another ship ended up taking them to Australia.
“I remember being told that under no circumstance were we to feed them because of the effect it would have on their starved bodies.”
Kevin Gray MM, chief executive officer of Legion Scotland, paid tribute to Tom and other heroes. He said: “We are extremely grateful to Mr Lennie and the other veterans who took part in the exhibition.
“Their individual stories highlighted the essential role these men played in the war effort and reinforced how important it is to remember the sacrifices that were made during the Second World War.”