Monmouth MP David Davies has called on the Government to award a military medal to veterans of the Arctic Convoy operations during the Second World War.
Over 3,000 seamen were killed ferrying food, munitions, weapons and vehicles to Russian troops on the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1945.
The Russian Government was recently refused permission by the Foreign Office to offer the Medal of Ushakov for valour to all survivors of the perilous missions.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday (22nd October), Mr Davies said: “I shall be pleased to be wearing the Queen’s Jubilee medal for service to the police on Remembrance Sunday this year, but that service pales into insignificance compared with the service given by the Arctic Convoy veterans.
“Should not the Government recognise, or allow the Russian Government to recognise, their heroic role in defeating national socialism?”
Replying to the question, Defence Minister Dr Andrew Murrison MP promised that the Government was going to re-examine the issue and would report back sometime next year.
Afterwards, Mr Davies urged any surviving veterans living in Monmouthshire to get in touch.
“I have been contacted by one constituent whose father served on the convoys and I would be very pleased to hear from any others who served themselves,” he said.
“It is vital we honour their courage”.