My Dad's Arctic Star

[londonronnie]

When it was announced a little under two years ago that a new medal was going to be awarded to men who'd served in the Arctic Convoys during World War 2 I decided to apply on behalf of my Dad. Not that my Dad would ever actually see the medal as he died a long time ago, but he was immensely proud of his service in the Royal Navy and I knew that if he were still alive he would have been delighted to receive it.

It was probably about eighteen months ago that I sent in the application, accompanied by photocopies of my Dad's service record and other documents. The months went by without any sort of acknowledgement, but that didn't bother me as I knew that applications were being dealt with in strict order of importance - surviving veterans first, then widows, then next-of-kin (ie me). Then in October last year I received a letter asking for further documentation, so at least I knew that my application was finally being processed. After another six months or so I was beginning to wonder whether I should contact the Ministry of Defence and make enquiries (paranoid as usual about things being lost in the post!) but decided to leave until a year had passed since the last letter.

Then yesterday, out of the blue, the postman brought a recorded delivery package and there it was - my Dad's Arctic Star. I'm so chuffed.

Comments

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

Oh, I had no idea.

My father was on the Arctic convoys as well in WW2!

These medals were a long time coming - I'm glad to hear you applied for your dad's. (Father got his a while ago as a still living veteran).

Such brave, brave men.

*Hugs*

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yes, 70 years after the event and long overdue! It's lovely that your father knows that his efforts have finally been appreciated.

Brave men indeed! When you see the photos of the conditions that they had to work in it's a wonder any of them survived.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

It really is. Mind you, Mother had to push him to apply.

It is lovely that they extended it beyond those veterans still living.

I know. Such horrendous pictures, as you say it is a wonder any survived.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

You must be justifiably proud! And it's a beautiful medal. My nephew sent for something similar for my father. It was a certificate for his being in the intelligence service during the War. Like you, my dad is gone, but we can still honor their service to their country.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

And you must be very proud of your father too!

It's good to know that they have finally been acknowledged for their service, isn't it, albeit sadly too late for the majority of them. At least we know how proud they would have been to receive that recognition.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is wonderful. I'm so glad they do send them to surviving relatives like that. You must be so proud of your father, and all that he did and endured for his family and country. Bravo.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

There has been a long campaign to have this special award made in recognition of the hardships the men endured in the convoys. It's a bit of a race against time now to get them presented to the surviving veterans, who are all around 90 years of age and older. I'm so pleased that they're also sending them out to relatives of veterans who have passed on - I shall now add this to my Dad's other medals, which are much cherished.

[ali15son.livejournal.com]

How lovely and something you should be proud of.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I certainly am very proud of my Dad, and I'm so pleased that the hardships the men endured in the convoys has finally been recognised.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Excellent! your patience rewarded.

My father was pleased to be able to claim his too. He was lucky, he got to fly over the convoys as navigator on a Liberator bomber.

Dad has just turned 90, and still enjoys flying, planning to come from Australia for a visit next month. \o/

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful that your father has received his medal. It's sad though that it came too late for the majority of them, but I'm very thankful that they're also sending them out to the next-of-kin.

Good for your Dad! I hope he has a wonderful trip to the UK next month!

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

How fabulous! Congratulations, and well done for persevering and being patient. You must be so proud of your dad. ♥

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

I am very proud! The men who served on the convoys had to put up with horrendous conditions. Not that I learnt that from my Dad, mind you. I think the most he ever said was that the seas were pretty rough! It's only in later years that I found out exactly what they had to endure, so it's wonderful that their service has finally been recognised.

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

That's fabulous.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I was pretty choked up when I opened the package, as you can imagine!

[grey853.livejournal.com]

That's brilliant!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I wish my Dad had still been here to receive it in person, but this is the next best thing.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Long overdue and congratulations to you and your family.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It certainly has been a long wait for the men who served in the convoys to be recognised, but better late than never. It's a shame that so many of them have already passed on, but good that the families can still receive the medal on their behalf.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad that you have this - it must have been very dearly earned indeed.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

My Dad never said very much about the difficult conditions they had to endure - typical of someone who actually went through it, I suppose - and I've only learnt in later years just how horrendous it was. It's great that their service is finally being recognised.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well done your dad, and well done your patience in applying for him!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I felt I owed it to my Dad to get his medal for him, even though he would never see it. I know he would have been chuffed too.

[murphybabe]

Congratulations, and well done for persevering. That's a beautiful medal. And it sounds a bit trite, and I truly don't mean it that way, but I wish I could say thank you to him and to everyone else for their service.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It's not trite at all, honestly! I don't think we really realise what they went through until we're that little bit older with families of our own and so on, and quite often it's too late then to express our appreciation.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

You're right to be chuffed as they suffered more than most in the war. Wasn't it the Russians who've always treated them as real heroes when our own side tended to overlook what they had achieved?

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

That's right, the Russians brought their own medal out a few years ago which they offered to British veterans. It was only very reluctantly that the British government allowed it to be awarded, and then on a very limited basis. Too late for my Dad unfortunately as he had already passed away and it was only awarded to living veterans.

It's taken a long time for this country to recognise their efforts, but great that it's happened at last.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

It's a testament to the love you have for your dad to have done this. It made me tear up. Good job!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Well, I know my Dad would have been chuffed so that's why I'm chuffed too!

I was quite choked up when it arrived actually, not least because it took me completely by surprise. I was opening the package thinking "I don't remember buying anything on Ebay, no idea what this can be..."

[minori-k.livejournal.com]

Wow! It looks that the medal has a great dignity! Your dad would be proud of it! Congrats!!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's very much a traditional style, so it fits in nicely with my Dad's other medals.

[sw33n3y.livejournal.com]

Oh that's wonderful! How lovely to know your father's bravery has been officially recognised.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's certainly nice to know that it has at last. Even more so for the surviving veterans who are still around to receive their medals in person!