Caithness veterans rekindle memories at ceremony
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CAITHNESS was well represented at "a very poignant ceremony" which took place at the weekend to mark the 70th anniversary of the Arctic convoys which sailed to Russia during the Second World War.
Members from the Caithness branch of the National Merchant Navy Association, and the Wick branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland were at the event near Cove in Wester Ross on Saturday.
Fifteen veterans of the convoys, including Sandy Manson from John O’Groats, were present at the memorial service as well as 300 family members, friends, VIPs, the Wick branch of the Sea Cadets, local residents and schoolchildren.
Also there was HRH Prince Michael of Kent and Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness Anne Dunnet, who laid a wreath on behalf of the local branch of the association.
Mr Manson, who is 87, served on HMS Matchless on the Arctic convoys for over a year between 1943 and 1944.
He recalled that the temperatures were regularly 40 degrees below zero in winter with only about half an hour of daylight at that time.
Mr Manson said it was so cold he and his colleagues had to wear special suits and gloves, special harnesses, hoods and leather boots, a life belt and a
special light.
"I never experienced cold like that before or since," he said.
While the weather was not as severe as that on Saturday, the conditions were not great. There were strong winds and rain and it was cold.
"Being there at the weekend brought back the memories and the awful times we had on the convoys. It was a sad occasion but it was great to be there," said Mr Manson.
"We met Prince Michael of Kent as well as the Russian and Norwegian delegates. I enjoyed the event but the weather was cold.
Mr Manson had attended a similar memorial service in Orkney in 2009.
Another local, Alex Buchan, a veteran of the North Atlantic convoys, described the occasion as "very poignant" and "very worthwhile".
He said about 350 people were at the event, including around 30 from Caithness.
Mike Coupland, the secretary of the local branch of the National Merchant Navy Association, was also impressed with the event although the weather was "foul". "Prince Michael spoke well and shook hands with everyone in the hall afterwards. It was a marvellous day but a sad one, too," Mr Coupland told the Caithness Courier.
Local clergy and veterans led the service, supported by a lone bugler and piper. The Anglian Sovereign coastguard tug provided a backdrop spraying water cannons and the coastguard helicopter did a fly-past at the end of the service.
When the ceremony was over the party went to Poolewe Village Hall for some refreshments.
The Arctic convoys of World War Two carried vital supplies to the northern Russian ports of Murmansk and Archangel from September 1941 until December 1944.
From September 1942 the convoy of merchant ships accompanied by Royal Naval protection vessels were based at Loch Ewe.
The route the convoys took was particularly hazardous, not only due to the horrendous weather and the dangers of drifting icebergs, but also because of the close proximity of German forces who had occupied Norway.
Winston Churchill called it "the worst journey in the world".
During the campaign over 3000 seamen perished in the polar waters.
As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations, the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum project launched its fundraising campaign for a museum which will cost around £500,000. It is expected to be completed within three years.
Anyone interested in making a donation can do so on the Just Giving website – www.justgiving.com/russianarcticconvoymuseum/donate
