The last surviving relative of a Montrose sailor who is buried in Russia has called for all Arctic convoy seamen to be honoured including those who paid the ultimate price.
Lorna Crighton’s uncle, William Pert, was one of the hundreds of sailors who endured some of the worst conditions of the second world war in maintaining vital supply links to the Russian ports while under constant attack from German submarines and aircraft amid freezing weather.
Winston Churchill described as them as most dangerous convoys of the war.
Mr Pert died in 1943, aged 26, as a result of injuries he suffered while on the convoys and he is buried in Archangel.
Thirty convoy veterans from Scotland have been presented with medals from the Russian government to recognise their heroic deeds and Mrs Crighton, who lives in Ferryden, has called for the honour to be extended to veterans who have since died.
She successfully applied to the British Government for a posthumous Arctic Star which was specially commissioned by the UK government to commemorate the service of merchant seamen and members of the armed forces in the Arctic waters between September 1939 and May 1945 and awarded to over 9000 people.
Mrs Crighton assumed the new Russian award would be the same and medals given to all the seamen on the convoys, including the 2800 who never returned to our shores.
“The Russian consultate has told me there was a ceremony in Edinburgh but they were only giving medals to the people themselves,” said Mrs Crighton.
“I just thought what the widows who lost their husbands and had to bring up a family on their own would think about their husbands not getting the same recognition.
“These sailors had to endure awful conditions and everyone who took part deserved recognition.”
Editor’s link: The Russian Convoy Series.