Local Veteran returns to World War Two scene of arctic convoys

Edwin Leadbetter, 92, was joined by Bernard Roberts, 91, from Cardonald; James Docherty, 92, from Dalmarnock in attending a special annual ceremony on Sunday.

The men have become close friends and also enjoyed a three-night stay at a hotel in Gairloch as part of a new “Break Away” service.

The trip was courtesy of the Unforgotten Forces project which supports older veterans and their families in Scotland.

Edwin, also known as Eddie served on HMS Fencer, an escort aircraft carrier during the Second World War. He was on the Fencer when it joined an attack on the German battleship Tirpitz.

Eddie spent more than a decade in the Royal Navy and is a recipient of both the Arctic Star and the Burma Star.

Eddie suffers from Alzheimer’s and lives with his daughter and carer, Liz McKenna He was referred to Fares4Free by Poppyscotland for support with essential journeys.

James will be making his first journey back to Loch Ewe since the Second World War. He talks of his time there and remembers when he looked at the ship next to him, only to see his neighbour from Dalmarnock, in Glasgow, looking back at him.

“It’s a small world!” he thought to himself. James is a recipient of the Arctic Star and the Ushakov Medal. He was referred to Fares4Free by the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Edinburgh for assistance with essential travel.

Bernard – or “Barney” – served in the Royal Navy from 1942 and finished his service in 1947 on HMS Forth, in Rothesay, where he met his wife. It recently came to light that Barney spent time on mine-laying ships in the Arctic Circle and an application for the Arctic Star has been made. He has also received the Africa Star for his contributions in northern Africa.

A fourth veteran – Albert Lamond, aged 92, from Erskine – was also due to attend, but, unfortunately, is not well enough to do so.

Albert, who attended the 75th anniversary of the first Arctic Convoy with Fares4Free in May last year, is a recipient of the Arctic Star, the Ushakov Medal and is a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur for his service to France during the invasion in World War Two when his ship acted as an escort to Bombardment Force D of the Eastern Task Force.

Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, which brought the Western Allies together to provide essential support and supplies to the Soviet forces.

Chosen for its remote and isolated location, Loch Ewe, in the northwest Highlands, was the gathering point for many of the Arctic Convoys before they embarked on their perilous journey.

The most direct route was by sea, around northern Norway to the Soviet ports of Murmansk and Archangel.

Between August 1941 and 1945, a total of 78 convoys travelled to and from northern Russia, taking four million tonnes of supplies to the Soviet forces, including 7,000 planes and 5,000 tanks.

Tragically, more than 3,000 sailors and merchant seamen lost their lives on the convoys.

Sharon Higgins, deputy head of Welfare Services at Poppyscotland, said: “The route taken by the convoys was exceptionally dangerous, especially in winter, and conditions were among the worst faced by any Allied sailors during World War Two.

“In addition to battling the elements, many of the convoys were attacked by German submarines, aircraft and warships.

“No-one can underestimate the role played by the thousands of brave sailors who embarked on these perilous but pivotal missions.

“Now, more than 75 years on, Poppyscotland is delighted to be leading the Unforgotten Forces consortium as well as delivering the Break Away service in partnership with The Travel Company Edinburgh.

“Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and the veterans visiting Loch Ewe are a terrific example of how bringing together services that are of benefit to these individuals can have such a positive impact.

“We owe so much to veterans such as these and it is a privilege to be able to provide them with the opportunity to return to what will be for them such a poignant location.

“We are very grateful to colleagues from Fares4Free, Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and others for their support in making the break happen.”

Several wartime buildings, gun emplacements and anti-aircraft batteries still stand around the local landscape where the veterans are visiting. For that reason, Loch Ewe is the base for many commemorative activities, and The Russian Arctic Convoy Museum project set up a dedicated Exhibition Centre in the village of Aultbea last year.

Unforgotten Forces is a collaboration of 15 leading organisations led by Poppyscotland which is delivering a range of services and enhancements in areas including advice, access to healthcare, social isolation, respite and transport, along with creative activities and events for those in care settings. The consortium was awarded £4 million worth of funding from the Aged Veterans Fund.

Charity Fares4Free is a member of the collaboration and proved integral to making the break go ahead.

Hugh Henderson, Fares4Free chairman, said: “It is wonderful to see this special trip going ahead. James, Albert and Barney meet every week for afternoon tea at a centre for veterans in Glasgow, and, since the first coming together, all seem to have taken on a new lease of life.

“The group have become very close .

“There may be other people out there in the same situation as these four friends and this is what Unforgotten Forces is all about. It’s just a shame that Albert is unable to attend.”

Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) Welfare Officer Andy Riach, who also wenton the trip, said: “In my role as a Welfare Officer at DMWS, I have supported two veterans who have served on the convoys. I have seen first-hand what it means to them to remember the hardships and the lives lost at the time, and in the years since.

“Thanks to Poppyscotland’s Break Away service this trip has enabled three veterans in their nineties to pay their respects. When you consider the tiny number of remaining veterans from this group, their age and what they had to endure during these arduous sailings, this is a really worthwhile project indeed.”