A WAR veteran who endured the horrors of the wartime Arctic convoys has died just days after learning he would be entitled to a campaign medal.
Merchant seaman Barney Mitchell, 86, of Humshaugh, Northumberland, was one of the last 200 survivors of the 66,000 who served on fleets carrying vital armaments to Russia during the Second World War.
But just a week after the Government bowed to pressure to grant medals to the brave veterans, Wall-born Mr Mitchell, a widower, died in a Tynedale care home.
However, his family is now set to apply for the Arctic Star medal he never received – and treasure it as a family heirloom.
Daughter Lesley Anderson, of Chollerford, said yesterday: “Dad learned that he was entitled to the Arctic Star medal just days before he died. He had a number of Russian government medals, but the British Government had not until now agreed to medals for the convoy veterans. His grandson has the other medals, and we will add the new Arctic Star to the collection.”
Fellow-convoy veteran Fred Jewett, of Throckley, Newcastle, confirmed yesterday that Mr Mitchell’s family would be entitled to the medal for which survivors have fought so long and hard.
Mr Jewett, 89, a former Corbridge British Legion chairman, who sailed with the Royal Navy around the hostile German-occupied north coast of Norway to Russia, said: “The first recipients will be people who are still alive. After that they are going to give the medal to the next of kin, but you must make an application for it with documentary evidence of service in the convoys. I have made my application and am waiting to hear from the Government.”
Mr Jewett, who last year played a major role in the compilation of a DVD about the Arctic convoys, Last Witness, added: “I went down to 10 Downing Street a decade ago to try to explain to them, but it has taken many years to get this decision.
“Royal Navy or Merchant Navy, as Mr Mitchell was, makes no difference. It was the same for everybody – the Germans weren’t too fussed who they torpedoed!”
Mr Mitchell spent four years as a merchant seaman on board the Fort Slave, battling freezing seas as well as German U-boat and Luftwaffe attacks. The priceless military equipment that made it through on British and US ships to the Russian ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk played a major role in the Allies’ eventual victory.
In 2005, Prime Minister Tony Blair presented small pin badges to the British convoy veterans but Mrs Anderson said: “My father was pretty disgusted with that, and said so.”
Mark Francois, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, announced awards for convoy veterans as well as Bomber Command on February 26.
Mr Francois said: “All those who served our country in Bomber Command and Arctic Convoys deserve the utmost respect and admiration. These special individuals will in the next few weeks begin to receive the Bomber Command clasp and Arctic Star that they have so long deserved.
“I am also pleased to announce that the families of those no longer alive will also be able to apply for these awards in recognition of their loved one’s bravery.”
