RED tape is preventing these two Second World War heroes from collecting medals for their bravery.
Alf Duncan, 86, a former Royal Naval seaman, from Humberston, and Neville Boden, 86, a former Merchant Navy Officer, from Immingham, served in some of the most treacherous seas as part of the Arctic Convoys that delivered desperately needed supplies to the Russian army in 1943.
They overcame dreadful icy conditions whilst under constant threat from both aircraft and submarine attacks.
Winston Churchill described the convoys as "the worst journey in the world", which saw nearly 3,000 seamen killed and many more needing amputations for severe frostbite.
They have now been offered the Russian Silver Ushakov medal for bravery, but British veterans have not been allowed to accept them due to bureaucratic regulations which state that too much time has passed since the conflict, and that British medal, the Atlantic Star, was extended from a different conflict to include the Arctic Convoys.
Neville served on the tanker, M.V. Marathon which carried aircraft fuel.
He said: "It's great that Putin has decided to reward the sailors for their efforts. The Russians didn't have to give us this medal and certainly not after all this time.
"I think the Government is being ridiculous. The American, Australian and Canadian governments have all allowed their veterans to receive this medal.
"I suppose the Government believes that since we already have a medal we don't need another one.
"I have got the Atlantic Star, but that medal was for a different conflict. It was extended to include the Arctic Convoys."
Alf served on the Destroyer HMS Scourge, which accompanied the merchant vessels during one of the longest naval campaigns in history.
He said: "I think the British Government is bitter at the Russians.
"The Normandy veterans were given the Legion of Honour medal by the French decades after the landings, so why is it too long for the convoys?
"To wear the medal would be a great way to show our appreciation.
"It's beyond me. I don't see why they can't let us have the medals. It's an insult to the Russians.
"All the other nations who fought alongside us have received their medals, yet we don't accept them, it's humiliating."
Neville said that simply sailing along the sub-zero routes was difficult enough without the addition of attacking aircraft and U-boats.
He said: "We got stuck in the ice and would have to break the ship free. When the ships were stuck we would still be constantly attacked.
"The conditions were dreadful. It was horrendous.
"We would be attacked day and night. It would take 12 days to sail to Russia and when you got there the ports were under constant attack.
"We became stranded there in 1943 because the Nazis blockaded the ports, we were known as the forgotten convoy because we couldn't be rescued.
"Churchill could not get enough ships to fight through and save us until 1944.
"We had no food or fuel, but the Russian people were so nice and helpful.
"It feels like an insult to them that we cannot accept this medal."
A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We very much appreciate the Russian Government's wish to recognise the brave and valuable service given by veterans of the Arctic Convoys.
"However, 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 service should have taken place within the previous five years.
"Additionally, permission cannot be granted if they have received, or are expected to receive, a UK award for the same services."
There would be nothing wrong if we had an " English" government, unfortunaley we have to subsidise the other three, come the day when we can be on our own.
'A land fit for heroes'.. Great input Frog but sad reading. An 'English Goverment' Frog...we all know deap down it is not going to happen the rot has set firmly in.
. Great input Frog but sad reading. An 'English Goverment' Frog...we all know deap down it is not going to happen the rot has set firmly in.
