A Caerphilly County Borough resident, who received a prestigious Arctic Star medal in 2013 for his services to the Armed Forces in the Arctic convoys to North Russia, has also been honoured by the Russian Embassy for his contribution during World War II.
Jim Winfield, age 93 and a resident at the Castle View Residential Home in Caerphilly town, was presented with the Russian military Ushakov medal for Arctic convoy veterans earlier this month.
In October last year, Mr Winfield received a letter from the Russian Ambassador to the UK, Dr A Yakovenko to notify him that he was to be awarded the Ushakov medal for his services during the Arctic convoys to North Russia during the Second World War.
In the letter, Mr Yakovenko said: “It is a huge privilege for me to thank you for the invaluable contribution you and your comrades-in-arms made… 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”.
Mr Winfield’s daughter travelled to London to collect the medal from the Russian Embassy, and it was presented to him by Lord Don Touhig at the Castle View Residential Home in the presence of his family, friends and staff.
At the medal presentation, Mr Winfield told of how, “he was very proud to accept the medal, and that what they had accomplished had not been forgotten about all these years later”.
He also expressed how happy he was that his family were present to see him being presented with the medal and thanked them.
Mr Winfield was awarded the Arctic Star medal in November 2013, which is presented to former Armed Services personnel who served in the Arctic Circle during World War II, particularly to those who delivered supplies to Russia during this time.
The veteran served in the Royal Navy between 1939 and 1945 on a number of different ships including HMS Belfast and HMS Javelin. He left the Navy following World War II but was recalled and later served also in the Korean War.
He married his wife in 1948 and they lived in the same house in Pontllanfraith until she passed away, and he became a resident at Castle View Residential Home in 2013.
Cllr Robin Woodyatt, Cabinet Member for Social Services said: “The presentation of this medal is a fitting tribute to Mr Winfield and other veterans for their services to the Armed Forces during the Arctic convoys of World War II. On behalf of all at Caerphilly County Borough Council, I would like to send my warmest wishes to Mr Winfield and his family.”