Family’s pride at Carnoustie man’s posthumous Arctic Star medal

A Carnoustie man has been awarded the Arctic Star medal posthumously.

John McLeod Robertson made two perilous crossings of the Arctic Ocean during the Second World War on board the anti-aircraft gunship HMS Alynbank.

His journal states that his ship’s crew “went through hell” during the crossings in May and September 1942.

He wrote: “We left the UK on May 16 1942 and arrived Archangel June 1 1942.

“We were stranded for a month there as we had no ammo and had to wait for a month for a destroyer to bring some to us. When we left Russia we brought back tonnes of bullion to the Clyde. We then went back in the middle of September to Murmansk.

“We went through hell both times and were very lucky to get back safely.”

His daughter, Heather Kennedy, who lives in Carnoustie, told The Courier she was delighted to receive the medal.

She said: “He felt that his trips to Russia were the most dangerous and terrifying experiences that he had gone through during the whole war.

“We are so proud to have the medal.”