Russian Ushakov Medals for Arctic Convoy veterans
Five World War Two veterans have been honoured by Russia for their part in transporting crucial supplies.
Lt Cdr Ian Clive Macintyre, 97, was among five Guernsey residents given the Ushakov medal "for personal courage and valour shown". He said while he was "obviously very honoured" he was "just one of thousands... I did my job just like everyone else did". Lt Cdr Macintyre said: "The Russians have always been appreciative." "[This medal] is not really for me it's for the work that was actually done by everybody on the convoys." Lt Cdr Macintyre, who served on HMS Nigeria, said the cold was the worst part: "It was a bit primitive early on because in the first convoys we had no clothing that was really suitable - a duffel coat, sea boats and what the dear ladies at home had knitted for us - woollen balaclavas." The other four medal recipients were Charles Frederick Thornton Poynder, Harry Lawrence Wolley, Ragot Chatterton Wood and the late Frederick Levi Darby whose medal was presented to his widow. Arctic Convoys The medal is named after Fyodor Ushakov, an 18th Century naval commander who never lost a battle and is the patron saint of the Russian navy. It was created in 1944 and is awarded to veterans "for personal courage and valour shown during World War Two while participating in the Arctic Convoys".