South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray was honoured to award Jim Cairns, aged 91, a medal for his part in the Arctic convoys during World War 2.
Wikipedia notes the Artic convoys as: The Arctic convoys of World War II were oceangoing convoys which sailed from the United Kingdom, Iceland, and North America to northern ports in the Soviet Union - primarily Arkhangelsk (Archangel) and Murmansk, both in modern day Russia. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945 (although there were two gaps with no sailings between July and September 1942, and March and November 1943), sailing via several seas of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. About 1400 merchant ships delivered vital supplies to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease program, escorted by ships of the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Navy. Eighty-five merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy warships (two cruisers, six destroyers, eight other escort ships) were lost. The Nazi German Kriegsmarine lost a number of vessels including one battleship, three destroyers and at least 30 U-boats as well as a large number of aircraft.
After the event Sheryll said, “Along with so many MPs, I supported the call to honour the veterans of the armed forces and merchant navy who served above the Arctic Circle between 3 September 1939 to 8 May 1945. I was delighted when Her Majesty the Queen formally approved this retrospective medal earlier this year. This is why it was a real privilege to present Royal Navy veteran Jim Cairns with his Arctic Star award last Saturday in Looe at the Royal British Legion Armed Forces Day stand in the Rose Garden.
“What made the event even more special was to meet up with Jim’s family Gordon and Glen Cairns and some of his grandchildren Maxine and Alan. Indeed, I have known this wonderful Looe family for so many years when I was fighting for a fairer deal for our fishermen. It was so good to see three generations of Looe fisher folk together. Many will not know that Maxine Cairns was the first fisherwoman to work in the Looe fleet.”
Frank Woods of the Looe Royal British Legion said, “On Behalf of the Chairman, Branch Secretary and committee, I would like to pass on the thanks of all at the Royal British Legion Looe for the presentation of the Arctic Star medal to Jim Cairns by Sheryll on Saturday. The presentation was very well attended by British Legion members, the Mayor and Mayoress, ‘Poppy Man’, council officials and many local people. Importantly Jim’s family was in attendance including those from Australia, I believe that Jim and his family are well known to Sheryll through fishing. It was great that Sheryll was able to attend and it added to the sense of occasion.”
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Contact: Sheryll Murray MP 01579 344428
Pictured: Sheryll presents the Arctic Cross medal.