SURVIVING veterans of the Arctic Convoys must be given their medals ‘with great urgency’, Portsmouth’s council leader has said.
Lib Dem Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson has urged the government not to delay in awarding medals to veterans of the Second World War convoys. It comes amid fears many of the surviving veterans will not live to see recognition if there are any delays in the medals being stuck.
In a letter to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: ‘I would like to thank you for the decision of the government to allow the awarding of the Arctic Convoy Medals.
‘I am very conscious that the veterans who will receive these medals are becoming increasingly old.
‘It is now 73 years since the convoys and therefore veterans are very elderly.
‘Every week before the award of the medals puts them at risk of not being able to receive the medals they so richly deserve.
‘Please could I ask you to use all your endeavours to make sure that the medals are struck and presented with great urgency so that no more veterans come to the end of their lives before being presented with the medals they so richly deserve.’
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