PRESS RELEASE:
TWENTY USHAKOV MEDALS ARRIVE IN LONDON, AWAITING THEIR TWENTY HERO RECIPIENTS
Following the presidential decree, signed by the Russian President on 10 March 2014, listing nearly 3000 names of British veterans due to receive the Russian state award of the Ushakov medal, the first group of twenty British veterans of the Arctic Convoys will be receiving their medals on board HMS Belfast, on Friday 9 May 2014.
On Friday 9 May 2014, a commemorative ceremony will be held on board HMS Belfast to mark the 69th Anniversary of Victory in the Second World War and the Arctic Convoys (1941-1945).
During the ceremony, twenty British veterans will be awarded the Russian State Naval award for bravery - the Medal of Ushakov. They are: Alan Florence, Albert Foulser, Anthony Snelling, Arthur Hutton, Arthur Lauricks, Arthur Waddington, Austin Byrne, Charles Erswell, Cyril Banks, David Kennedy, Ernest Davies, Ernest Kennedy, Frank Bond, Fred Udell, Gordon Long, Harry Card, James Pitts, John Hurst, Leslie Perks, Stanley Ballard.
The hero veterans of the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy will reunite with their Russian Navy shipmates on board HMS Belfast to celebrate their joint Victory and to commemorate their absent friends. The ceremony will be attended by distinguished guests, including the former head of the British armed forces Lord David Richards and Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties Rt. Hon Simon Hughes MP.
The traditional Pusser’s Rum ‘Up Spirits!’ and Russian Standard Vodka ‘To Victory!’ toasts will follow the minute’s silence with cannon salutes in honour of the Arctic Convoy heroes.
A variety performance by British and Russian musicians including soloists Anne Allen on the flute and Litsa Tunnah on violin will be held on Friday 9 May 2013, at 18:30 in The Hay’s Galleria, London SE1 2HD to commemorate the extraordinary contribution made by British and Russian sailors in the treacherous conditions of the Arctic Convoys 1941-1945 .
Eugene Kasevin, founder of Victory Day London, said - “The Arctic Convoys added a glorious chapter to the history of the Second World War - an ordeal filled with selfless courage and, unfortunately, still wrapped in a veil of oblivion. We urge a remembrance of the important historical role of the Arctic Convoys, so that the present and future generations will know about the joint struggle of Soviet and British people against fascism. We must remember the courage and the heroism of our ancestors.”
Victory Day London event is held in partnership with VTB Capital, Petropavlovsk Plc and SCF Sovcomflot.