A former Mansfield sailor has received a prestigious Russian military honour, at the behest of Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Derek Albert Tilley is a veteran of the Arctic Convoys, which played a key role in defeating Hitler during the Second World War.
It is thought millions of Russians would have starved to death without the courage shown by the sailors on the convoys in getting supplies to the war-torn country from August 1941 and May 1945.
The convoys were constantly under attack from enemy ships, submarines and mines and sailors had to withstand appalling Arctic weather conditions on what Winston Churchill described as “the worst journey in the world.”
Mr Tilley received the Ushakov Medal from the chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Coun Sybil Fielding.
The medals were introduced in 1944 and named in honour of Russian admiral Fyodor Ushakov, an illustrious 18th Century naval commander. They are awarded to sailors and soldiers who have displayed courage and bravery in the defence of the Soviet Union.
In 2014, Mr Putin ordered the honour should also be given to British veterans for their bravery during the convoys, where the Navy joined colleagues from Canada and the United States to provide safe passage for merchant ships transporting essential supplies to the Soviet Union.
So far more than 3,300 Ushakov Medals have been issued and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in London has embarked on a campaign to present them to British veterans across the country.
Mr Tilley joined the Navy in 1943 and served as a target ranger on the destroyer, HMS Scourge, which accompanied merchant navy ships to ports in northern Russia.
Mr Tilley said: “I remember having to regularly chip ice away from the superstructure of the boat and how it seemed to be cold and dark constantly.
“I used to feel especially sorry for the merchant navy ships who we were there to protect because they were the ones that were being targeted for attack the most, but we were all in danger all of the time.
“We were part of the convoy that was with the HMS Lapwing when that was sunk (in 1945). It was terrible. I remember hearing a loud thump in the darkness and then seeing the flames when it was hit (by a torpedo from a submarine).
“Our captain went against orders and tried to pick up survivors, but using the searchlight was putting our ship from attack in danger as well.”
Coun Fielding collected the medal on behalf of Mr Tilley at a ceremony in Nottingham last year, which he was unable to attend due to health.
She said: “It’s a privilege to meet Mr Tilley, present him with this thoroughly-deserved recognition of his bravery and say thank you — not only on behalf of the people of Nottinghamshire, but also for those countless Russian families who his actions helped to save.
“The courage of Mr Tilley and his Arctic Convoy colleagues should always be remembered and respected. History tells us that without the contribution of the Arctic Convoys, the war against Hitler may well have been lost. We owe all these veterans a huge debt of gratitude.”
Pictured is Derek Tilley, third right, with, from left, his son-in-law Reg Bower, grandson Stephen Bower, Coun Sybil Fielding, and his daughters Jean Bower and Lynn Overton.