Arctic Convoy veteran Bill Sunderland denied war medal from Russians

9:22am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

Bill Sunderland, who served on board HMS Serapis during the Second World War Bill Sunderland, who served on board HMS Serapis during the Second World War

AN ARCTIC convoy veteran from York has spoken of his disgust after the British Government blocked Russian plans to present him with a special medal.

Widower Bill Sunderland, 86, of Foxwood Lane, was delighted earlier this year when Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree to award him and other veterans the Ushakov Medal in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to the allied co-operation” during the Second World War.

Bill told how he had survived 40ft waves, torpedo attacks and savagely cold weather which left his ship covered in two inches of ice as the Arctic convoys delivered food, weaponry and other vital supplies to Russia as it fought the Germans in the east. He said he felt “quite honoured” by the award.

But now the British Foreign Office has intervened to prevent the medal being presented, even though the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Canada are all reported to have granted permission for their citizens to get it.

Mr Sunderland, who served on board the destroyer HMS Serapis, said yesterday: “It’s disgusting. It’s appalling. It wasn’t even going to cost the British Government a penny.

“This wasn’t a film. We were real people out there, some of whom were being killed. Some of my friends lost their lives.”

The Foreign Office said it very much appreciated the Russian Government’s wish to recognise the veterans “brave and valuable” service, but a spokesman said: “The rules on the acceptance of foreign awards clearly state that in order for permission to be given for an award to be accepted, there has to have been specific service to the country concerned and that that service should have taken place within the previous five years,” said a spokesperson.

“Additionally, permission cannot be granted if they have received, or are expected to receive, a UK award for the same services. All British veterans of the convoys were eligible for the WWII Atlantic Star. Additionally, a lapel badge (the Arctic Emblem) was introduced in 2006 and some 10,000 have been issued.

“We look at each request for permission to confer a foreign or Commonwealth state award upon a British citizen on an individual case-by-case basis.”

The Russian Embassy in London said the decision gave it grounds for “deep regret,” adding: “We consider such rationale cannot serve the basis for a refusal to recognise the heroic service of the British convoy veterans. We hope that the British authorities will reconsider this bureaucratic formality and review their position.”

Peter Shepherd, chairman of the York branch of the Royal Naval Association, said yesterday: “I think it’s disgraceful, and they should think again.”

York Central MP Hugh Bayley said he would ask the Foreign Office to review the decision, adding: “These people on the convoys went through hell. If other countries can agree to this, I cannot see why Britain can’t.”

Comments(39)

CHISSY1 says...
9:43am Sat 20 Oct 12

Hope you get it Bill,you earned it.
But this is typical of this country,wonder if the human rights mob will fight your corner.

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sheps lad says...
10:08am Sat 20 Oct 12

They should stick some of these civil servants in a rowing boat and leave it in the North Atlantic for a spell in winter!

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ClueDog says...
10:44am Sat 20 Oct 12

It took the Russians long enough to acknowledge the service of Bill and the other Arctic Convoy heroes. Now that they have finally done so, it's absolutely shameful that paper-pushers and box-tickers at the Foreign Office are denying him the honour that is rightfully his, and that he earned so courageously. An absolutely shameful situation. If they really do look at these things on a 'case-by-case basis' then it should be utterly obvious that this is a case for setting aside these stupid rules.

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Hicarrumba says...
11:52am Sat 20 Oct 12

sheps lad wrote:
They should stick some of these civil servants in a rowing boat and leave it in the North Atlantic for a spell in winter!
Could have stopped at stick some in and boat and leave it in the north atlantic....

Hope you get this.

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sheps lad says...
11:53am Sat 20 Oct 12

Hicarrumba wrote:
sheps lad wrote:
They should stick some of these civil servants in a rowing boat and leave it in the North Atlantic for a spell in winter!
Could have stopped at stick some in and boat and leave it in the north atlantic....

Hope you get this.
Gottit Good!

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whitehorse says...
12:20pm Sat 20 Oct 12

What a ridiculous ruling from the foreign office. Should be ashamed.

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ColdAsChristmas says...
1:38pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Sheps lad, that civil Servant might just be under the impression that Arctic ice has melted. But seriously, this is ridiculous, we allow the likes of Prince Charles to wear a chest full of commemorative medals having never seen a moments active service while denying 86 year old Bill a well deserved acknowledgement.
I know many thousands of service personnel were denied the 1977 Silver Jubilee medal because of Spending cuts, it was never issued even when the economy improved but Prince Charles etc got theirs. That is the Andrew Mitchell attitude we are up against. Don't give up Bill, you earned it!

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again says...
1:42pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Typical of this Tory Government.

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AnotherPointofView says...
3:36pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Mr Sunderland, you and your former colleagues have my sincere thanks for what you did and the conditions you endured. You have my deepest respect.

To the un-named F.O. spokesman... hang your head in shame.

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scarkey bulldog says...
4:51pm Sat 20 Oct 12

This is absolutely disgraceful!

A War Hero cannot be given the recognition that he and his comrades rightly deserve while honours and titles can be given for the most trivial reasons if you have the right connections.

Mr Sutherland, you have my total respect.
Thank you and your generation for the sacrifice you made for my Freedom.

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R'Marcus says...
4:58pm Sat 20 Oct 12

CHISSY1 wrote:
Hope you get it Bill,you earned it.
But this is typical of this country,wonder if the human rights mob will fight your corner.
I hope that our war hero does get a medal.
Shame on the Conservative government and its lackies, the LibDums.

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
5:06pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Is that the Billy Sunderland who i knew when i was a kid ? He and his family lived in Fifth Avenue . Lovely people . Hope you get it Billy . You knew my Uncle Bob . You used to visit us when you were home on leave .

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malwood9 says...
5:43pm Sat 20 Oct 12

How dare these time wasting, expense fiddling wasters dare deny these heros a medal, they have forgotten who pays their wages.

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
5:57pm Sat 20 Oct 12

I do not understand this at all . How can they prevent this award being given . I don't think i am stupid but this story doesn't make sense . It is nothing to do with the British Foreign Office . Or even the British Government or Her Majesty The Queen . She would be so proud of Billy . I feel i know for sure .
Please mister editor will you use your influence to tell the UK Foreign Office to shut up and mind their own business . PLEASE .

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spottycow says...
6:12pm Sat 20 Oct 12

What do you expect from this goverment they are nowt but a bunch of TW...TS and im a tory I HOPE BILL gets his medal

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
6:39pm Sat 20 Oct 12

If the Editor doesn't do anything as THE PRESS .. i am prepared to write to the Russian Embassy and thank them for their compassion and suggest they ignore the British Foreign Office . It has bugger all to do with this Government .

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dudbertman says...
6:47pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Hope this government sees sense and reverses this stupid decision. Bill you deserve an additional medal for all you did for the people at B J's

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ReginaldBiscuit says...
8:20pm Sat 20 Oct 12

The worse thing Bill is that the worst thing the politicians have had to face is going without a Latte and missing their M&S Mexican Bean wrap because it's sold out.

I hope common sense smacks the democracists in the face here. Professional and honest recognition of facts and bravery is extremely hard to earn in a world where anything and everything can be bought and shaped.

Shame on the government.

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RooBeck says...
8:22pm Sat 20 Oct 12

It's to be hoped that the national media run a campaign in support of these old servicemen and shame this government into revoking these nonsensical rules, so as Bill and his colleagues receive this richly deserved award and are properly recognised. Maybe the local North Yorkshire media could lobby the local MPs, especially the Tory member for Richmond, who should have the authority to stand this bureaucratic stupidity right on it's head.These pen-pushing nonentities should be reminded that the Cold War ended in 1989 and though suspicions still prevail, we should rise above politics and fully accept the Russian government's wishes to honour these very brave men, all of whom are now in the twilight of their lives.

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brahma says...
9:56pm Sat 20 Oct 12

“The rules on the acceptance of foreign awards clearly state that in order for permission to be given for an award to be accepted, there has to have been specific service to the country concerned and that that service should have taken place within the previous five years,” says the FO.

Utter rubbish - it's less than four years ago the French were issuing the Legion D'Honneur to Harry Patch. How does that stack up with "specific service to the country concerned and that that service should have taken place within the previous five years?"

Give the man his medal and get your head out of your fundament

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:10pm Sat 20 Oct 12

brahma wrote:
“The rules on the acceptance of foreign awards clearly state that in order for permission to be given for an award to be accepted, there has to have been specific service to the country concerned and that that service should have taken place within the previous five years,” says the FO.

Utter rubbish - it's less than four years ago the French were issuing the Legion D'Honneur to Harry Patch. How does that stack up with "specific service to the country concerned and that that service should have taken place within the previous five years?"

Give the man his medal and get your head out of your fundament
Yes --- I remember this . I was about to mention this but couldn't spell Legion D'Honneur hahahahah ( thank you ). But why has the Foreign Office need to have to accept ?? It is not their honour but a personal Gift . Her Majesty picks these gongs up like sweeties . Do the Foreign Office get involved in this . I think not . Her Majesty will be proud and also honoured to know that Billy, as one her subjects has been honoured as such .
You will get your Gong Billy .

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Omega Point says...
10:17pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Prince Charles should write one of his letters to the mandarins and reflect the sentiments expressed so well by you all.
Can we see it perhaps?

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Some old bloke says...
10:19pm Sat 20 Oct 12

I'm intrigued by the practicalities of this ruling.
Will the government ban all Russian diplomats from entering Britain for 12 months in case they're carrying a medal in their pockets?
Or maybe they'll place Mr. Sunderland under house arrest to prevent him travelling to Russia to accept the award?
This is clearly the most ridiculous ruling that even this idiot government has managed to produce.

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:20pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Omega Point wrote:
Prince Charles should write one of his letters to the mandarins and reflect the sentiments expressed so well by you all.
Can we see it perhaps?
Indeed -- Well said

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:27pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Some old bloke wrote:
I'm intrigued by the practicalities of this ruling.
Will the government ban all Russian diplomats from entering Britain for 12 months in case they're carrying a medal in their pockets?
Or maybe they'll place Mr. Sunderland under house arrest to prevent him travelling to Russia to accept the award?
This is clearly the most ridiculous ruling that even this idiot government has managed to produce.
The Press should fight on behalf of the York Community to show our disgust at the intervention of a Foreign Office . I understand that this department is understaffed and overworked due to Government cuts . To approve is not against the security of this Country . This is little reward for Billy showing his loyalty to his King and Country . I am so annoyed . Thank you PRESS .

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Omega Point says...
10:43pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Seems odd that the goverment and previous one have said yes to very belated monuments etc to war efforts (Bomber Comannd, dogs in service and others). This 60 or 70 years later than the events.

Change this stupid rule or modify it (sometimes there are reasons) so these last few heroes can receive what they deserve..

Sorry, try not to post more than once on a thread but so angry, grrrrr

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
10:53pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Omega Point wrote:
Seems odd that the goverment and previous one have said yes to very belated monuments etc to war efforts (Bomber Comannd, dogs in service and others). This 60 or 70 years later than the events.

Change this stupid rule or modify it (sometimes there are reasons) so these last few heroes can receive what they deserve..

Sorry, try not to post more than once on a thread but so angry, grrrrr
Is the last comment a PRESS ruling -- hahahahhhahaah. Ok i will shut up . You are so naive . Pity you can not spell also . Bomber Command . LOL . What a sad PRESS . No more posts , i have sussed it out .

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Omega Point says...
11:52pm Sat 20 Oct 12

Yorkie - have you been drinking?
Or is it satire?

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Magicman! says...
3:22am Sun 21 Oct 12

I bet our government is denying the russians giving the bloke his medal is more to do with the current political situation with russia rather than any made up rules about the service having to have been done in the last 5 years.

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kirchheim says...
10:24am Sun 21 Oct 12

Would the Foreign Office should a different attitude if it were a medal from the US government? I rather think so - as the previous writer suggests, I think this is a cheap dig at Putin at the expense of Mr Sunderland and his comrades whose heroic efforts speeded up the conclusion of the war.

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Veteran13 says...
2:11pm Sun 21 Oct 12

This issue is beyond politics. I served in Malaysia during the Confrontation as it was called, against Indonesia. About 7 years ago the King of Malaysia awarded a medal to all who had served then and the earlier Malaya Emergency. Fellow veterans of NZ and Australia were given permission to accept and wear straight away...by the Queen!! The first reaction of our Government of the day was to refuse the medal. After a twelve month campaign they reluctantly agreed to let us accept the medal......but we were not allowed to wear it!!!
We fought on for another 6 years before the people who decide these matters, were forced to give in just before Remembrance Sunday last year. Look at our now suspended web site at fight4thepjm.com for the story.
The people who make these decisions are unelected and unaccountable Civil Servants who form the Honours and Decorations Committee. They are as tricky as a bucket of eels. They tried to ignore Freedom of Information requests and even refused to answer letters from many of us during the campaign. We were proud of our Asbo's as we called them.
Angry, you bet I am.
Good luck Bill. Hugh Bayley MP was very supportive of my small part in our campaign and he knows the issues involved. A review of these whole issues was called following our campaign and others and is due to report shortly. Let us hope this helps to bring justice for Bill and his comrades.

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
2:24pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Omega Point wrote:
Yorkie - have you been drinking?
Or is it satire?
I do not Drink -- Horlicks or Cocoa , maybe . Sorry we are only allowed limited messages on here . I read and digested . Hope you treat others in the same way .. I was wondering if you also worked in the Foreign Office at some time ????

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deathwatch says...
2:59pm Sun 21 Oct 12

The pen-pushing little turds at the Foreign Office are only there in part due to the sacrifices this gentlemen have made in their lives. These beaurocrats are scum. Stupid vermin who undermine what this country stood for and make me ashamed to be British.

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NoMorePlease says...
3:52pm Sun 21 Oct 12

Yorkie-Clifton wrote:
Omega Point wrote: Seems odd that the goverment and previous one have said yes to very belated monuments etc to war efforts (Bomber Comannd, dogs in service and others). This 60 or 70 years later than the events. Change this stupid rule or modify it (sometimes there are reasons) so these last few heroes can receive what they deserve.. Sorry, try not to post more than once on a thread but so angry, grrrrr
Is the last comment a PRESS ruling -- hahahahhhahaah. Ok i will shut up . You are so naive . Pity you can not spell also . Bomber Command . LOL . What a sad PRESS . No more posts , i have sussed it out .
I think omega point means he tries not to post more than once, but he is angry so has done so. Not a comment from the press here. He left out the "I"

Report this post »

deathwatch says...
3:58pm Sun 21 Oct 12

NoMorePlease wrote:
Yorkie-Clifton wrote:
Omega Point wrote: Seems odd that the goverment and previous one have said yes to very belated monuments etc to war efforts (Bomber Comannd, dogs in service and others). This 60 or 70 years later than the events. Change this stupid rule or modify it (sometimes there are reasons) so these last few heroes can receive what they deserve.. Sorry, try not to post more than once on a thread but so angry, grrrrr
Is the last comment a PRESS ruling -- hahahahhhahaah. Ok i will shut up . You are so naive . Pity you can not spell also . Bomber Command . LOL . What a sad PRESS . No more posts , i have sussed it out .
I think omega point means he tries not to post more than once, but he is angry so has done so. Not a comment from the press here. He left out the "I"
I don't think anyone REALLY cares if he posts once, twice, three times, or whatever... And posting a comment to simply whine about a mis-spelling??? Jeez! Grow up...

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michaeljohnrogan says...
11:13am Mon 22 Oct 12

I wonder how many of those,Foreign Office Civil Servant hypocritical Jobsworths, will be standing at the.Cenotaph Memorial service in.Whitehall next month.
You shame the Nations honour of those who seved their country,and risked life,and severe hardships in appaling conditions,by denying men such as,Mr Bill Sutherland recognition of their bravery from the.Russians.
My uncle was one of those brave.Merchant seamen,on the,Murmansk convoys,who made me aware of what those men endured,it was.Pure Hell,"his words". Some one please name,and shame,those responsible for this appaling decision,and send them in a boat on the.Northern Route to.Russia.

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Yorkie-Clifton says...
4:23pm Mon 22 Oct 12

NoMorePlease wrote:
Yorkie-Clifton wrote:
Omega Point wrote: Seems odd that the goverment and previous one have said yes to very belated monuments etc to war efforts (Bomber Comannd, dogs in service and others). This 60 or 70 years later than the events. Change this stupid rule or modify it (sometimes there are reasons) so these last few heroes can receive what they deserve.. Sorry, try not to post more than once on a thread but so angry, grrrrr
Is the last comment a PRESS ruling -- hahahahhhahaah. Ok i will shut up . You are so naive . Pity you can not spell also . Bomber Command . LOL . What a sad PRESS . No more posts , i have sussed it out .
I think omega point means he tries not to post more than once, but he is angry so has done so. Not a comment from the press here. He left out the "I"
Thank you NoMorePlease . This makes the whole sentence readable . Thank you . Its amazing how a missed word can really confuse a matter .
I think we are all angry .

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York1900 says...
2:24am Tue 23 Oct 12

You have to remember after the war Russia was not deemed a friendly nation to the west
So the Russians could not recognise them
But now the Russia as made this offer to them for what they did in the war

Now Russia is more open with the west
These men should be allowed to collet there hard earned medals from the Russians

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yorkieyon says...
10:50am Thu 25 Oct 12

Disgraceful - the man is a bloody hero. Governments seem more than happy to give out awards and even knighthoods to actors, sportsmen, bankers(!), but these are simply people who do a job they love and get paid very well for doing it.

Meanwhile this chap goes through hell on earth and is denied recognition because of some jumped up civil servant. Pathetic and utterly ignorant.

Maybe the award will be blocked, but some solace is that people are educated about the sacrifices made by Bill & others, and it will never be forgotten.

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