General Chat

i think is a disgrace for tony blair to refuse the soldiers who belonged in the artic convoy their medals for there bravery in the war.these soldiers risked life and limb in the war and some didn't make it back.tony you will never get my vote because i do not want a prime minister in power who has no feelings towards these men who fought for this country great britain.you are a disgrace!

go on there Lisa ,well said. If it wern,t for the men in the merchant navy we would have lost the war in twelve months ,we would have all starved.Tony blair is a wimp.Fred.By the way in their theatre of war the merchant navy lost more menin comparison than any other branch of the forces,makes you think dosn,t it.

Dont blame the country for the man, somebody put him there!

Lisa I agree this is absolutely disgraceful. I am going to get all my facts right . Then get a letter off to the daily mail. They should be honoured. The men that is not the daily mail for me writing to them

I realise an opportunity to criticise Mr Blair is rarely neglected but "Service on the convoys (commonly referred to by veterans as the Arctic convoys) to Russia during the Second World War was recognised by the award of the Atlantic Star. The qualifying criteria for the medal clearly state that service on convoys to Russia counts towards the award of the Atlantic Star. The eligibility criteria for the range of medals instituted to recognise Second World War service were drawn up by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known usually as the HD Committee, see above), which advises the Sovereign on all matters relating to Honours and Awards. The Committee took great care with the qualifying criteria of all the campaign medals and stars, before submitting them to King George VI for His approval. The King approved the proposals in the late 1940s and subsequently ruled that no further medals should be instituted for Second World War service. His ruling remains in force today and there are no plans to institute any new medals, or to amend the qualifying criteria of any existing medals." (Attlee or Churchill presumably) and "An approach was made by the Russian authorities in the mid-1980s when their 40th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War Medal (also known more commonly as the Russian Convoy Medal) was offered to British ex-Servicemen. Originally instituted in 1985 and offered to British veterans shortly afterwards, permission was not granted for it to be accepted and worn at that time." (Thatcher) finally "In 1994 The Queen granted permission for this medal to be accepted and worn by eligible British citizens. This was considered acceptable in the light of changed circumstances in Russia since the medal was first issued, the improvement in relations between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation, and the fact that the medal was a commemorative issue, recognising the passing of forty years since the end of the war, rather than a foreign campaign medal. It was made clear at that time that it was not envisaged that permission would be given for any future anniversary medals issued by foreign or Commonwealth Governments to be accepted and worn by British citizens where they related to services wholly rendered more than five years prior to the proposal to make the award." (Major)

typical of the way this country has treated its heroes for hundreds of years. my father served on the russian convoys and often said hell could not be worse, but what particularly annoys me is the royal familys glittering collection they proudly wear for doing sod all

typical of the way this country has treated its heroes for hundreds of years. my father served on the russian convoys and often said hell could not be worse, but what particularly annoys me is the royal familys glittering collection they proudly wear for doing sod all

away now chloe ,you didn,t get that quite right, hrh prince philip did earn one or two during the war,but in truth he got the rest by marrying the queen,nice for some i suppose.Fred.

My friend's father served on the battlehip HMS Nelson on the Russian convoys. He died just a few weeks ago. I know that he wasn't a merchant seaman, but the sailors of the RN, RNVR and RNR were there too. And let's not forget the pilots of the Merchant Navy Fighter Unit. These men were catapulted of the foredecks of merchant ships, in clapped-out Hurricane fighters. When their fuel ran out they either had to ditch close to the convoy and hope to be picked up, or they parachuted out into the freezing arctic waters. If they weren't picked up in minutes they were dead. And finally, yes, I do agree that the men of the Merchant Navy deserve the highest recognition they can be awarded. I can't see it happening though.

There seems to be little regard for, or even knowledge of, the British merchant navy in this country. However, successive governments have given us good cause for such ignorance now, as we do not have a merchant navy worth speaking of, which seems a bit strange for an island nation. Another (relatively minor) conflict like the Falklands would no longer be possible without chartering in (no doubt at great expense - the costs incurred in the first Gulf War (kept very quiet, of course) will give some indication there) ships from other nationalities. Look around you... NOTHING you will see got there, either directly or indirectly, without merchant shipping. Rob