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The Arctic Convoys of WWII were hell. The voyages to Russia were horrific voyages fighting German submarines, aircraft, and ships. The weather they had to face was insane. Anyone who fell in the water was dead. Inches of ice needed to be constantly chipped off the ship to stop it capsizing. This combination of atrocious weather and constant enemy action made the Convoy's one of the most dangerous and stressful theatres for any Navy, or Merchant Navy person, to find themselves.
The drama and danger these very brave men overcame is truly heroic. The sheer drama has been immortalised in fiction with the brilliant HMS Ulysses by Alistair MacLean.
The Allies lost 101 ships. Over three thousand sailors died in this battle.
By any stretch of the imagination this was a major theatre of war on par with any military action in any war.
And yet the men who fought such an incredible struggle have never received their proper governmental recognition. They have not been awarded the campaign medal they have so earned.
In opposition David Cameron solemnly promised the brave survivors that he would rectify this injustice and award the veterans their medal.
However like many of his promises Cameron has gone back on this simple, inexpensive, promise.
However worse than that one of current crop of defence secretaries Andrew Robathan explains why Cameron won't be honouring their pre-election promise by saying
'We don't just dole out medals like Colonel Gaddafi'
The contempt for brave men is dripping off the lips of a Tory MP.
How can any MP, much less a Tory who is supposed to be pro-military, be so sneeringly condescending and idiotic?
Why insult veterans?
Medals aren't expensive. The surveys of the Convoys aren't many. These men earned the medals. They are not a gift or a treat. They are earned by danger, blood, and loss.
By any criteria the veterans should have their bravery and sacrifice recognised.
For the life of me I cannot see why all the governments since the war, labour and Tory, have felt fit to insult the Convoy veterans.
Why not give them their due?
And as for Robathan, he is a ignorant dickhead undeserving of being an MP. His presence on Tory benches diminishes the Tory party and their spin of patriotism. What I find utterly shocking is that Robathan was once a professional solider in the guards and the SAS (though he didn't recieve any bravery medal). He actually volunteers to return to the army in Gulf War 1 where he was a prison warden. Why would such a veteran insult other veterans who fought a much more dangerous and costly battle?
If Cameron didn't want to give brave men their medal then he shouldn't have used the promise for electoral advantage before the election. To give a promise of a medal than renague on it shows him to be a liar, shallow, ignorant and fundamentally untrustworthy.
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Cameron promised them a medal prior to the election. He also promised a timely medals review including that of the NDM campaign .
ReplyDeleteSo far despite this promise nothing has been heard.
I am a septuagenarian,former volunteer RM Cdo and Queen's 6/7(V) HSF officer. I remain astounded by Robathan's insensitivity. I believe that he should resign. I am glad that I never served with him and consider him unfit to hold the portfolio for veterans.
I totally agree with you Charles. I support the proper recognition of the Convoy veterans. Like yourself I simply cannot understand how a professional solider can become so seduced by the Mandarins in the MoD and the House of Parliament that he loses sight of what is right. Perhaps worse how can have insulted brave men so needlessly.
ReplyDeleteI do don't understand how he could be so stupid or so ignorant of bravery