Arctic Convoys - WW II

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Pelican
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Arctic Convoys - WW II

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ARCTIC ECHOES [With music]

"I sent this to the Russian embassy and thought that you might like to see it.
I made this last night as a small tribute to Russia Day, it is the special book of paintings by Jim Rae I compiled for the 75th anniversary of the safe arrival of Operations Dervish & Benedict that brought the first help to Arctic Russia. All the words are from those who were there in the Arctic years ago.
The book celebrates this and all those who served in that fearful campaign that represents the ultimate bonds of “The connecting power of history”, our history.
With warmest wishes
Tim
Lewin of Greenwich Veterans’ Legacy

https://vimeo.com/430886147

Enjoy, I hope, big screen is best, it is 24 minutes long."
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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One of the smaller ships which took part in the Arctic Convoys.
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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UK AND RUSSIA REMEMBER THE ARCTIC CONVOYS’ ‘TRUE BROTHERHOOD IN ARMS’
15 December 2020
Wreaths have been laid at memorials around the UK to honour the men who sailed in the Arctic Convoys to Russia.

Royal Navy and Russian military representatives have taken part in 75th anniversary commemorations of the end of a bitter four-year struggle to deliver vital aid to the Soviet Union and defeat Nazism.

The global pandemic scuppered plans for a major commemoration of the end of the convoys, which ran from the summer of 1941 until the defeat of the Third Reich in the spring of 1945.

Instead a ‘virtual commemoration’ was last month, when veterans joined senior political and diplomatic figures from Britain and Russia for an online discussion to underline the importance of the convoys – and to thank the dwindling number of men who endured what Churchill called ‘the worst journey in the world’.

That event sparked the idea of low-key physical commemorations at some of the key monuments to the convoys.

Commander James Buck, Harbour Master in Orkney, saluted the fallen commemorated by the monument on Hoy; adjacent Scapa Flow was home to many of the warships which escorted the convoys.

Liverpool was a key staging post for both Atlantic and Arctic Convoys. The Royal Navy’s Deputy Regional Commander Lieutenant Colonel Guy Balmer Royal Marines joined the Rector of Liverpool Canon Dr Crispin Pailing for a service at the Arctic Campaign memorial in Liverpool Parish Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas.

And on HMS Belfast on the Thames Rear Admiral Iain Lower, the Royal Navy’s Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy), and the Russian Defence Attaché to the UK, Colonel Maxim Elovik, met on the quarterdeck of Belfast in London for a 15-minute service of remembrance and thanksgiving.

Continues at:
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ic-convoys
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
timlewin
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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https://cloud.mail.ru/stock/bN7HoNdLREzSbvZin4ERiUZG

Dear All,

As you will remember we have cooperated with St. Petersburg Polar Convoy team for years, tragically they recently lost our dear friend Sergey Aprelev, but life goes on. Here is an excellent 20 minute film made by St. Petersburg Administration on their ambitions and progress, if you look closely you will see the HMS Belfast memorial plaque cast from the old masts’ steel on their wall, they also speak warmly of the gift of the White Ensign we made to the Ice-breaker Krasin in the 2019 Victory Day event with HRH Prince Michael.

The work, is it really work? We do with these friends and others in Russia remains a bright light of welcome and warm friendship in a distant window.
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jbryce1437
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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timlewin wrote: Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:37 pm https://cloud.mail.ru/stock/bN7HoNdLREzSbvZin4ERiUZG

Dear All,

As you will remember we have cooperated with St. Petersburg Polar Convoy team for years, tragically they recently lost our dear friend Sergey Aprelev, but life goes on. Here is an excellent 20 minute film made by St. Petersburg Administration on their ambitions and progress, if you look closely you will see the HMS Belfast memorial plaque cast from the old masts’ steel on their wall, they also speak warmly of the gift of the White Ensign we made to the Ice-breaker Krasin in the 2019 Victory Day event with HRH Prince Michael.

The work, is it really work? We do with these friends and others in Russia remains a bright light of welcome and warm friendship in a distant window.
Many thanks for the link Tim, I enjoyed watching the video. I used google, to see if their museum was open yet and I managed to find a link for the museum and pleased that the website is in English - The Northern Convoys International Centre I also found an interesting link to the Arctic Convoy Museum at Birchburn, Loch Ewe
All very interesting.

Jim
HMS Raleigh 1963 , HMS Collingwood 1963 & 67 , HMS Ark Royal 1964-7, HMS Undaunted 1968-71, HMS Victory (Fleet Maintenance Group) 1971-72, HMS Exmouth 1972-74
JEM, EM, OEM, LOEM, POOEL
Then 28 years in the Fire Brigade
Retired since 2002
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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A tribute the Russian Arctic convoy veterans!

Please see attached.
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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ARTIC CONVOYS

From - Royal Navy

You can watch a virtual tribute to the heroes of the Arctic Convoys tomorrow [Sunday May 9 1400hrs] at: http://ow.ly/3Nf450EHlpM

The convoy museum on Loch Ewe - which was a major staging post during WW2 for convoys heading to the USSR - has created over 200 silhouettes representing wartime shipping in memory of those who ferried vital aid to northern Russia, running the gauntlet of U-boats and air attacks in the very worst of weather.
The Anglo-Russian commemorations begin at 2pm.
Find out more: http://ow.ly/dqpw50EHlpL
[There are some photos at: https://www.facebook.com/royalnavy/phot ... 942758205/ ]
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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GANGES BOY CHARLES ERSWELL

Ganges boy Charlie Erswell has got his memoirs coming out end of June, his memories of the Artic Convoy, Charlie is 98 this year, you can order from amazon.
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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80th anniversary of first Arctic Convoy remembered in Liverpool

Eighty years to the day that sailors left Liverpool on ‘the worst journey in the world’, wartime Allies paid tribute to the men of the Arctic convoys.
Representatives from the UK, United States, Canada and Russia gathered in St Nicholas’ Parish Church to remember nearly 3,000 sailors who sacrificed their lives to deliver vital aid to the Soviet Union between 1941 and 1945.

They ran the gauntlet of Nazi sea and air power and faced horrendous weather conditions – snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures, weeks of perpetual darkness in winter and little hope of rescue if they went in the water – to reach the ports of Murmansk and Archangel.

The mission – which began on August 12 1941 with the first convoy, Operation Dervish, sailing from the Mersey – was dubbed ‘the worst journey in the world’ by Winston Churchill.

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But they did attack many of the subsequent 77 convoys which came within range of U-boats and German bombers based in occupied Norway.

Sixteen Royal Navy warships were lost and 1,944 Senior Service personnel were killed, while 85 of the 1,400 merchant ships which took part in the Arctic runs were sunk, a loss rate 17 times higher than in the Atlantic campaign. More than 800 merchant sailors died.

Their sacrifice was not in vain. Over four years, they delivered four million tonnes of supplies to the Soviet war effort – about one quarter of the total aid they provided to the USSR between 1941 and 1945.

The 7,000 aircraft and 5,000 tanks, plus trucks, cars, fuel, medicines, metals and other raw materials helped the Soviets to defeat the Germans on the Eastern Front.

Full article, including photos at - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... nniversary - Note the photo of some of HMS Belfast's crew.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Arctic Convoys - WWII

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A Tribute to James D Rae Artist
A Celebration of the Artwork of James D Rae. A selection of the excellent portrayal of the Russian Arctic Convoys.

The Arctic Convoys - Forgotten Heroes thank Jim for his generosity in sharing is wonderful paintings with us, very kind and thoughtful. This video is a token of our gratitude.
Thank You, Jim. Adrian: On behalf of all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSsBRwn9PZ0

Jim Rae was Fleet Air Arm Fire and Rescue back when I was flying from the deck, I was glad of his presence!

In retirement, he has become a celebrated painter of ships and aircraft, many of his paintings are in the Arctic Convoy museums in Archangel and Loch Ewe.

When you have 5 minutes to spare, please watch and listen, the music suits the images perfectly!

As a footnote, I am privileged to have a Jim Rae original (of a totally different maritime/aviation subject) hanging beside me.

Good wishes,
Mike Cole-Hamilton, FAA Pilot - 'Gannet Driver'
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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