Arctic Convoys: 75th anniversary commemorations in Liverpool

I was in Liverpool on 31 October to attend an event in honour of the 75th anniversary of the Arctic Convoys. It was two months to the day since we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first of the Arctic Convoys in Arkhangelsk, Russia, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal and veterans and family members who had made the journey to Russia.

It was fitting that Liverpool, a city with rich maritime heritage, should host this special event in the UK. The first of the convoys, ‘Dervish’, departed Liverpool on 12 August 1941. Other convoys followed and many Royal Navy and merchant seamen came from Merseyside. The event was organised by Liverpool City Council, the Royal British Legion and the Ministry of Defence. Those present included Defence Minister Lord Howe, the First Sea Lord, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and the Russian Ambassador. It was fantastic to see over 40 veterans and family members at Liverpool’s historic Town Hall.

Lord Howe and the First Sea Lord thanked the veterans for their heroic service. We would continue to remember their service and sacrifice, and that of the 3,000 British and Allied sailors, soldiers and airmen who perished delivering vital aid to the Soviet Union during World War Two. There was a toast of rum (the first but not the last of the day!) to the veterans and absent friends.

We moved outside to the ‘Exchange Flags’ area behind the Town Hall and watched the wonderful band of the Royal Marines Plymouth ‘Beating the Retreat’. We then joined veterans for a visit to HMS Dragon which was moored at the dock especially for the event. The Commanding Officer and crew gave a warm welcome to the veterans and provided a tour of this modern Royal Navy frigate.

This was a day of honouring and remembering our brave veterans and for sharing stories of war-time service in Arctic waters. There were many moving moments during the day. One was when the First Sea Lord presented the Lord Mayor of Liverpool with her father’s Arctic Star medal. The Mayor’s father had died in 2010 and this presentation was totally unexpected. Another was onboard HMS Dragon when there was a flypast by an original Fairey Swordfish aircraft. Watching was a veteran whose friend had flown a Swordfish but had sadly passed away on 30 October. We raised a tot of rum to his memory.

We now turn our attention to events being planned for Loch Ewe, Scotland, in May 2017. This is where many of the convoys gathered before setting out on their perilous journey to Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. We look forward to once again honouring those who made the ‘worst journey in the world’.