May 1945: Germany surrenders.
January 1997: Veterans start their campaign backed by The News which presents a 16,000-name petition to John Major.
May 1997: Major backs defence minister Nicholas Soames in rejecting the request for a medal.
February 2001: Veterans minister Lewis Moonie turns down the medal plea.
March 2001: Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon confirms the decision.
October 2001: MPs ask the government for a rethink.
July 2002: Whitehall civil servants reject the idea of an award from Russia.
November, 2002: Blair promises case ‘under review’.
March 12 2003: After pressure from The News, defence minister Lewis Moonie agrees to meet Commander Eddie Grenfell.
March 25, 2003: Lewis Moonie refuses to change his mind.
July 16, 2003: Tony Blair refuses to meet veterans.
November 6, 2003: Blair tells House of Commons snub will be reconsidered.
January 5, 2004: The News launches the Last Chance For Justice campaign
January 12, 2004: More than 1,600 sign petition in first week.
January 13, 2004: The News takes a dossier of its campaign to Tony Blair.
March 13, 2004: More than 16,000 people have signed up to The News crusade.
May 15, 2004: More than 500 people bring London to a standstill carrying a News petition.
May 27, 2004: Blair reveals a review has been dismissed.
June 3, 2004: Arctic heroes receive medals from Russia.
July 23, 2004: MPs come out in support of the campaign.
March 7, 2005: Arctic veterans attend a reception at 10 Downing Street where they are offered an Arctic Emblem.
May 5, 2005: Cdr Eddie Grenfell stands for election in Ashfield, Derbyshire, when he runs against Mr Hoon in the General Election.
November 17, 2005: Veteran leaders meet new Defence Secretary Dr John Reid and agree the basis of a design for an emblem
December 21, 2005: MoD confirms the design.
August 8, 2006: Leading campaigner Dave Nash, dies aged 82, after losing his battle with mesothelioma.
October 11, 2006: The first surviving veterans are presented with their emblems.
January 19, 2008: Cdr Eddie Grenfell is awarded the German Military Cross of Honour by Germany.
September 14, 2008: The Russian Convoy Club holds its final meeting before disbanding due to dwindling of numbers.
August 19, 2009: Ministry of Defence rejects a sixth nomination for a place for Cdr Grenfell on the honours list.
March 25, 2010: Arctic Convoy veterans receive a medal from the Russian government marking 65 years since the end of the war.
January 12, 2011: Responding to a question from Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, David Cameron pledges that more must be done to recognise Arctic Convoy veterans.
June 24, 2011: Cdr Grenfell confronts veterans minister Andrew Robathan about breaking the pre-election pledge of a campaign medal.
August 21, 2011: Wreaths are laid at Portsmouth Naval Memorial to mark 70 years since the first Arctic Convoy left for Russia.
November 11, 2011: The government announces its intention to launch an independent medal review.
December 7, 2011: Mr Robathan compares claims for a convoy medal to the high number of honours dished out to Soviet generals and Colonel Gaddafi’s henchmen.
December 10, 2011: Mr Robathan apologises for comments, but says no to a medal.
March 24, 2012: Cdr Grenfell suffers a heart attack just after picking up a medal for bravery
May 10, 2012: The Royal Navy holds a service in Iceland paying tribute to the Arctic Convoys.
August 27, 2012: Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko says his government wants to award the veterans with the prestigious Medal of Ushakov
October 12, 2012: The Foreign Office blocks plans by the Russian government to award the Medal of Ushakov.
November 24, 2012: Ambassador Yakovenko pledges to keep fighting to allow convoy veterans the Medal of Ushakov.
December 19, 2012: David Cameron announces the creation of the Arctic Convoy Star Medal.
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