A WAR veteran from Blisland has received a medal for his involvement in the missions of the Arctic Convoys.

Tony Ham, 91, had not been included on a list of Cornish veterans, who were presented with the Ushakov medal by the Russian Deputy Ambassador Alexander Kramarenko at a ceremony last November, at New County Hall, Truro.

Mr Ham was instead presented with the medal at his home on Saturday. He said he was pleased to receive the medal, adding: “It took a long time, but it’s finally here.”

In May 2012 the Russian Government requested permission to award the Ushakov medal to British veterans of the Arctic Convoys.

In June 2013, the then Foreign Secretary William Hague announced an exception to the rules on the acceptance of foreign awards, giving formal approval to a recommendation for an exception to the rules on the acceptance of foreign awards to allow eligible British nationals to accept and wear the Russian Ushakov medal.

Mr Ham also received the Arctic Star from the British Government in August 2013 with assistance from Jowan Penn-Barwell MRCS, a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, whose mother lived in Blisland. Mr Penn-Barwell at the time was instrumental in applying for Mr Ham’s Arctic Convoy medal.

Described by Winston Churchill as ‘the worst journey in the world’, the Arctic Convoys were made up of vessels which travelled from Britain to northern Russia to resupply the Soviet Union.

Under constant threat of attack by German U-boats and aircraft, the craft also dealt with severe cold, storms and ice floes. The Arctic route claimed 104 merchant and 16 military vessels. More than 3,000 men died during the maritime campaign.

Mr Ham volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1942, at 18 years old, and was selected for nine months training as an electrical mechanic.

On his successful completion of the course, he was promoted to the rank of leading hand and was drafted to HMS Campania, an escort carrier, which took him on convoy escort in the Atlantic.

Mr Ham said of his experience: “It was a journey into sub-zero temperatures, mountainous seas, biting gale force winds and it was almost dark during daylight hours. One consolation, if the weather was really bad it cut down on the air attacks from German bombers stationed in Norway."

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week’s edition of the Post.