Men who braved their lives during the war taking much needed to supplies to Russia were today acknowledged as they were presented with the Ushakov Medal.
The Medal of Ushakov was a Soviet military award created on March 3, 1944 by decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and was named in honor of Russian admiral Fyodor Ushakov who never lost a battle and was proclaimed patron saint of the Russian Navy.
A special envoy was sent from the Russian Embassy in London to East Yorkshire to present the medals to the survivors and family members of those men locally who were entitled to the medal.
Bob Reeves from the Royal Naval Association instigated the event, he explained;
“I got a letter with 21 names in it of who was entitled to the Ushakov Medal. I managed to find some people who were still alive and some had families who were entitled to it.”
“Some sadly have passed away and we have been unable to find their family members but we continuing to try and locate them.”
“We still have a fight on our hands as some people have been told they are not entitled to Ushakov Medal.”
The UK supplied Russia with food and weapons during the war to fight the Nazi’s. It was a massive effort and the only route was by sea in the arctic.
The men, who were mostly merchant seamen and were not recognised with any medal until quite recently.
Fred Moore is one of the men who picked up his medal today. Now 91 he served when he was just 18 years old.
His daughter told HU17.net that her father had been feeling a little under the weather though since finding out he was going to be awarded the Ushakov Medal he has been a different man.
Vadim Retyunskiy from the Embassy of the Russian Federation led the presentations. Addressing the crowd he thanked them for their efforts in the war.
He passed on a message from President of Russia Vladimir Putin who thanked them for their efforts to help Russia fight the Nazis.
Mr. Retyunskiy went on to say even now both Russia and the UK continue to fight common enemies in a troubled world.
