31 August 2016 marked the 75th anniversary of the first of what would become known as the Arctic Convoys, which delivered essential supplies to the Soviet Union during World War Two. The first convoy, codenamed ‘Dervish’, left Liverpool on 12 August 1941 and finally arrived in Arkhangelsk in north west Russia on 31 August. ‘Dervish’ also brought the first of the British Hurricane fighter aircraft to Russia.
It was a wonderful honour to be in Arkhangelsk on 31 August this year as we remembered and said thank you to the British and Allied sailors, soldiers and airmen, including those from the Soviet Union, who sacrificed so much running German blockades in the freezing, perilous Arctic waters. Eight actual veterans of the convoys, including two RAF veterans of 151 Wing, accompanied by other veterans, carers and members of the HMS Belfast Association, made the journey from the UK and the US for the events. All of the convoy veterans are in their 90s but were determined to be there.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal represented Her Majesty The Queen. In her speech at the Victory Monument in Arkhangelsk, Her Royal Highness underlined the crucial role played by the convoys in the victory over Nazism. The veterans were a symbol of the shared history between the United Kingdom and Russia and it was important we continued to remember and honour the sacrifice. Her Royal Highness expressed her gratitude on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen and also paid tribute to the courageous Soviet veterans who had fought side-by-side with our veterans. The band of the Royal Marines Collingwood performed throughout the programme and delighted many thousands of residents of Arkhangelsk and visitors.
The veterans undertook a very full programme of events which started with a visit to the city of Severodvinsk. The city, which was known as Molotovsk during World War Two, played a key role unloading convoy ships and repairing those damaged during the crossing. The veterans were warmly received by the Mayor and residents of the city. Children gave a very moving ballet performance in the street and the veterans laid flowers at memorials. In a touching ceremony at the British and Allied Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Arkhangelsk, Her Royal Highness and the veterans laid flowers at the Cross of Sacrifice after the band of the Royal Marines had played the Last Post. The veterans also participated in a memorial ceremony on the Northern Dvina River dedicated to ‘those who never returned from sea’. All veterans were presented with a special commemorative 75th anniversary Dervish badge and also a wonderful book of watercolour paintings of the convoys by Scottish marine artist, Jim Rae, who also joined us for the events.
In St Petersburg, the veterans visited Piskarevskoye Cemetery and laid wreaths/flowers in honour of the victims of the Leningrad Siege of World War Two and also at the monument to the Arctic Convoys. Governor Poltavchenko thanked veterans for their service. Some of the veterans visited school number 600 in St Petersburg. We were delighted that children from school number 9 in Murmansk, which has a museum dedicated to the convoys, were also there, and joined the other children in singing songs and telling stories about the convoys. It was a very special occasion. All of the veterans visited the famous Russian ice-breaker, the Krasin, which was built in Newcastle and took part in the convoys. The Krasin and HMS Belfast are the two remaining floating ships that took part in the convoys. An exhibition in honour of the Krasin’s 100th anniversary will open at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle at the end of September: https://discoverymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/armstrongs-to-the-arctic-the-100th-anniversary-of-the-icebreaker-krasin
There were many tears as well as smiles, laughs and songs as veterans and their families were brought together for what was a very special visit. The visit meant a great deal to so many people. One of the most touching moments of the visit for me was when HRH The Princess Royal was speaking to one of the veterans at the Victory Monument in Archangelsk. A relative of the veteran was standing a few paces behind with tears pouring down her face as she watched. Another veteran noted in our consulate visitors’ book that he had ‘left some happy tears in Russia’. All told me that they were overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality extended to them by their Russian hosts. All are now well into their 90s but a number said they were determined to return.
The ‘next generation’, both British and Russian, also gave their commitment to do all they could to ensure the memory of the sacrifice by the veterans lives on, and to forging new partnerships in the spirit of the example set by our brave veterans during the Arctic Convoys. This was a very powerful, moving and colourful tribute to those who, in the words of Winston Churchill, made the ‘worst journey in the world’. We are very grateful.