By Bryan Kay

Dundee’s MPs have thrown their weight behind a battle for Arctic campaign veterans to finally be recognised with a medal for their efforts during the second world war.

Iain Luke and Ernie Ross have indicated their support to the Arctic Medal Campaign Organisation, which is desperately trying to gain recognition for the navy men who bravely fought to supply the Russians on the eastern front.

Campaign leader Commander Eddie Grenfell (84), originally from Montrose, yesterday said the group has now attained the backing of the majority of the House of Commons— some 332 MPs.

The Arctic Medal Campaign organisation has been fighting since 1997 for medals to be awarded to all the veterans of the convoys which carried military supplies to the Russian army between 1941 and 1945.

During that time they cut through icy seas and diced with death with the enemy close by to deliver four million tons of war equipment, including tanks and planes, to the Russian front line with the Germans.

Many of the surviving 3000 Arctic veterans are angry that they have not been awarded a specific campaign medal in recognition of their efforts.

Mr Luke said it was about time the veterans are recognised. He was speaking as Ronnie Meade (83), an Arctic veteran from Fintry, said it was time the veterans were recognised for their selfless service.

“They have tried to give us the Atlantic Star medal, but that is for those who served in the Atlantic; but we were in the Arctic,” he said.

“There should have been a medal. Those who served in other campaigns, like in the Middle East, all got medals but we were made to understand it was a different campaign.

“If we do get the medals I would be very happy because we should get it.”

Commander Grenfell, whose ship was blown up, said the offer of the Atlantic Star to the Arctic veterans was unsatisfactory.

“At the end of the last war the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Burma and Pacific campaigns all got medals but no one could explain why there was not a medal for the Arctic,” he said.

“They offered us the Atlantic Star but the Arctic is not in the Atlantic and we supplied the Russians.

“Also, to qualify for that medal you had to have at least six months away, but only six of the 670 supply ships remained long enough to qualify—so 90% could not qualify.

He continued, “Tony Blair said he would take a personal interest but that has not happened.

“But now we have the support of the majority of the MPs so we are getting somewhere.”

However, the Ministry of Defence insists that those who served on the wartime convoys to Russia have already been honoured with the Atlantic Star.

Early this year the Government decided against overturning the original decision, made in 1940.

A spokesperson said, “At a meeting on March 24, 2004, with Arctic Convoy veterans, the then Under Secretary of State, Dr Lewis Moonie, admitted that he could understand why the veterans were aggrieved and could see why they might consider the situation unfair.

“That was not an admission that the decision not to award a separate medal for service in Arctic waters was unfair.”