A disgraceful Government Minister

[DeepSea]

Forever a part of Murmansk

[Red Lead Ted]

His appology in todays press is to little to late. This leach has shot himself in the foot and should go ASAP Terry

[Keith at Tregenna]

On 30th. March 1942, the S.S. Induna (part of convoy PQ13 which was scattered by severe storms) was sunk by two torpedoes from the U-376. The S.S. Induna had previously picked up men from the whale ship Silja and the S.S. Ballot. The doomed seaman is believed to be off the S.S.Ballot which had sailed from New York under the Panamanian flag and joined the convoy from Iceland. She was then attacked by dive bombers and lost steam. Sixteen men were transferred to the S.S. Induna.

The above story is from a report by a crew member of the S.S.Induna who survived the war. There is a grave in Murmansk with the name O’Brien but no ship is mentioned. Ironically both the Silja and the Ballot - though casualties, eventually made it to Murmansk

Captain J.S.Earl M.N.M.


WE MADE IT KID

It was the world’s worst journey across the Barents Sea,
In a scattered Russian convoy, named PQ One and Three;
Off the coast of Norway and round it’s Northern Cape,
Braving hidden U-boats and the Junkers Eighty- Eight.

A torpedo struck the hold, bearing tons of coiled barbed wire,
Over aviation spirit - which exploded into fire;
Ordered to our stations, primed to abandon ship,
Struggling, taking crew off - the fire had forged a grip.

One man emerged from through it - he was all aflame,
Jacket, face, ears and hair, I didn't know his name:
His feet and hands were tattered as he fought to save his neck,
Over red-hot cargo that had blown up to the deck.

We pitched him in the lifeboat where we beat him out,
Then cast off from our vessel as there was no doubt -
The ship was doomed and sinking, rolling on her side,
Since another tin fish took its mortal ride.

Four days then we spent adrift, in appalling weather,
This winter in the Arctic freezing all together:
The man just sat upon a thwart in ghastly awful pain
Sheer open to the elements but never did complain.

He may have been Canadian or perhaps a Yank
(It’s difficult to have a chat with a gale upon your flank):
But he helped to pull along by leaning on his arms,
His hands had swollen treble - he couldn't use his palms.

The only thing he asked for, in those horrendous days afloat,
Was “Can you hold a fag for me, if I burn a smoke?”
Then came at dusk a rescue by a Russian fishing smack,
Who hauled us to a shelter in Murmansk’s cul-de-sac.

He looked at me through frozen eyes, most of him was rigid,
But he cracked his face and from his mouth I heard “We made it kid,”
Next day in the refuge I was summoned to his bed,
Where this courageous seaman, was laying there quite dead.

I do not know the history of this man I hardly knew
For he was picked up previously from another crew:
Years later on enquiring - his name may be O'Brien,
But I'll not forget such dignity and his courage of a lion.

Captain J.S.Earl M.N.M.

[Roger Dyer]

Hi Shipmates,

Following an email I sent to Andrew Robathan M.P. on the 10/12 I received this reply at 10.33pm. on 14/12(Sydney time). For the information of members I post his reply to me in full.



Dear Mr Dyer,

Thank you for your e-mail which follows some reporting of a debate in the House of Commons. First, the reports were misleading and I have complained to the Press Complaints Commission about it. Please read the whole speech, which I attach, and you must judge if you think it was my intention to offend Arctic veterans in some way.

Second, I confess that my choice of words was injudicious, which I regret, but I did not compare those brave men that served in the Arctic with Saddam Hussein or Gaddafi. I was explaining that Government policy in this country has traditionally been to award a small number of medals, unlike many other countries.

Third, I did not intentionally insult those people who you will note I particularly praise in my speech. Where offence was taken, I unreservedly apologise, because it would not have been my intention to insult these brave men, now in their later years, who showed such courage and fortitude under
appalling conditions. I was, clumsily, restating the policy of successive Governments since the Second
World War, but these decisions were taken by serving naval personnel in 1946, long before I was born.

The Coalition Government has announced there will be an independent review of medals policy and claims for medals and at the moment we are working out terms of reference. This independent review will look at the proposal for a meal (sic) for the Arctic convoys, which will not be influenced by the views of individual Ministers.

Yours sincerely,
Andrew Robathan


Contrary to what he indicates in his letter, I did not receive a copy of his speech in the Commons. Members reading this reply will note that, in keeping with his Commons speech, Mr.Robathan makes no reference to the Arctic campaign being distinct from the Atlantic campaign, which we all know it was. He would surely know, as do we, that any acknowledged difference between the two campaigns could and would be of signal importance to the independent review. It would seem that if it can be established that such a difference did exist then an independent review would have to recommend the issue of a medal to the Arctic veterans. - Hands up all those in favour of the 'Arctic Star'.


.....regards, Roger.

[Roger Dyer]

Further to my post #75.................................

As much as it galls me to admit it, I owe Mr.Robathan an apology. He has, in fact, sent me a copy of his speech in the House of Commons which I had mistakenly overlooked. I notice that it does contain the initial part of his speech which, apparently, was missing from the copy of Hansard I was able to obtain on the 10/12. In this part of his speech he clearly acknowledges the brave conduct of the Arctic veterans and the appalling weather conditions they were subjected to, but his reference to casualties and ship losses are in respect of the Atlantic campaign only, which rather suggests he was attempting to cloud the issue. One utterance during this part of his speech did surprise me when he said (unwittingly, I imagine) " The Atlantic convoys, rather than the separateArctic convoys, lost 3,500 merchant ships and 175 warships". During his tenure as Minister for Veterans Affairs he has shown a total lack of support for the issue of an 'Arctic' medal and in this speech his cruel indifference was further evidence of that callous attitude. Whether he seeks to avoid further Government expense or whatever his reasons are, his use of that single word may come back to haunt him.

I will be interested to learn who will be commissioned to carry out the independent review of the 'medal' issue and what the terms of reference will be.


,.,........regards, Roger.

[Captain Kong]

There is still a certain amount of ignorance and arrogance in his answers on this subject, he is still totally usuited for his job title.
No reply to my emails to the Prime Minister yet. One day?
Cheers
Brian

[Ivan Cloherty]

There is still a certain amount of ignorance and arrogance in his answers on this subject, he is still totally usuited for his job title.
No reply to my emails to the Prime Minister yet. One day?
Cheers
Brian

Well done Roger, also Brian in addition to the above, I see quite a bit of back pedalling going on to try and protect his position and pension

[David Christopher Harris]

Can any one furnish a way of comunicating with the PM other than # 10

[Chris Allman]

I received an identical reply to Roger Dyer's at #75. Even though he did acknowledge the bravery of those involved in the Arctic convoys, there is still an inference in his speech that the Russian Medal presented to the Arctic Veterans is a Micky Mouse Medal and not worth anything. This infuriates me and I still think he is arrogant and not worthy of the position he holds. He certainly does not appear to appreciate just what those involved in the Arctic convoys went through, otherwise he would have no hesitation in backing the call for a medal.

Chris

[j.sabourn]

After reading the Report on the so called Minister making the obvious distasteful remarks about the Arctic Convoy medal. May I say what a lack lustre and uneventful life he has lead if the report is correct. I fail to see any obvious qualifications he may have for holding the position he presently holds apart from being an ex officer in the Guards, most likely holding the commission through family members and old family friends, and also through a private education being bought for him. I would suggest any seafarer of a bygone era would put him and his C.V. to shame. Maybe this is his problem as he probably is a small minded man with a big self ego, who imagines he is someone of some importance who he expects people to heed to his so called wisdom. As I have no particular faith in any politiciian of any party, this only confirms my long standing belief of no faith in any of them.
Regards John Sabourn