A WAR veteran, who risked his life to deliver supplies to Soviet Russia during the Second World War, has finally been recognised for his efforts by the country.

Roy Dykes joined around 50 other veterans who served on the Arctic Convoy Missions in the Royal Navy from 1941 to 1945, to receive the Ushakov medal in London.

Mr Dykes, 94, of Lynch Hill Park, Whitchurch, was involved in a long-running campaign for the veterans to be honoured with an Arctic Star medal for their bravery, which was finally presented in March last year by Prime Minister David Cameron.

But Mr Dykes has continued his battle for the veterans to also be awarded a medal from the Russian government, in recognition for their efforts delivering supplies to the Soviet forces in the northern cities of Murmansk and Archangel.

Russia wanted to present the medals to the British veterans, but was stopped from doing so by the British government.

Mr Dykes said: “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office told me that the veterans must show that they have done something of value for Russia in the last five years.

“I wrote to Mr Cameron and said ‘You remember presenting at Number 10 for the Arctic Star. You remember some 50 veterans there, one or two in wheelchairs, some with walking sticks, others bending over and a large number assisted by relatives.

How on earth can these veterans be of any value to Russia in the present day?’ “The next thing I heard was that it had been agreed that we should have the medal.”

Mr Dykes went to receive the Ushakov medal at a reception at the Russian Embassy in London, where it was presented by Russian ambassador Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko.

He said: “What you did 70 years ago, taking part in what Sir Winston Churchill rightly called the worst journey in the world, was extraordinary, even among what is considered to be beyond the call of duty.”