Chelmsley Wood veteran receives Russian bravery medal

CAMPAIGN: James Hefford, from Chelmsley Wood, served
in the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War.

A PLUCKY pensioner who played a part in one of the toughest missions of the Second World War has been recognised for his bravery.
James Hefford, from Chelmsley Wood, is one of several Arctic Convoy veterans to have been presented with the Order of Ushakov – a Russian war medal.
Officials from the Russian Embassy recently visited the pensioner’s home to hand over the military honour and thank him for his efforts more than 70 years ago.
Now 91, Mr Hefford was a young navy gunner when he took part in the maritime campaign to carry fuel to the Soviet Union.
In order to get their precious cargo to Murmansk, the Allied ships had to find a way through severe storms, ice floes and German U-boats. Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously described the journey as “the worst on earth.”
In 2012, the Russians wrote to surviving veterans saying they wished to issue them with the Order of Ushakov, as a symbol of the country’s lasting gratitude.
The proposal was originally blocked by the Foreign Office, who argued that foreign medals could not be presented so long after the event.
Initially the government said that veterans would instead get a British honour and the Arctic Star was created specially for those who have served in the campaign.
But eventually officials agreed to make an exception to the rules and said the former servicemen would be allowed to receive the Russian honour as well.
Mr Hefford, a great-grandfather, said: “I feel humbled and honoured. But I’m also remembering the lads who never came back. They didn’t get a medal.”

Arctic Convoys:

• The convoys carried supplies from Britain to Northern Russian, which was locked in battle with Nazi Germany.
• Crews had to battle through winter blizzards and constant attacks by Germans, who attempted to torpedo ships and also launched repeated aerial assaults.
• By May 1945, 104 merchant and 16 military vessels had been destroyed attempting the journey and around 3000 seamen perished in the freezing waters.