A CALL has been made for Pembrokeshire veterans of the Second World War’s Arctic convoys to be formally presented with their Arctic Star medals, some of which were sent by post.

Gerry Price, a Royal Navy veteran from Pembroke Dock, was one of those who received his Arctic Star medal in the post - more than 70 years after the end of the war.

Friend and Pembroke Dock Town Councillor Maureen Colgan said: “The medal just came in the post. These medals should not just be put in the post to these veterans.”

Cllr Colgan is hoping to win support from Carmarthen West and South Pembroke AM Angela Burns and MP Simon Hart, and organise a presentation ceremony for Gerry and the other Pembrokeshire veterans who received their medals in the post.

Gerry joined the Navy when he was 15-years-old after lying about his age and he took part in three Arctic convoys and 42 Atlantic Convoys.

The Arctic Star will be added to Gerry’s impressive medal collection, which includes four from Russia, one from North Africa and another from Italy, as well as one Atlantic Star.

Aged 17, Gerry joined the convoy named PQ18 to the then Soviet Union, delivering vital aid to the port of Archangel and running the gauntlet of enemy submarine, ship and air attacks.

Originally from Liverpool, Gerry moved to Pembrokeshire to build the Cleddau Bridge and although the company he worked for failed to get the contract, he settled with his family and has lived there ever since.

Having wanted to go to sea since the age of five, Gerry said: “I am glad I did it – being in the Navy got me away from Liverpool and I never went back there.”

Seventy years on Gerry’s remembers how cold the Arctic was. “People think the sea doesn’t freeze but it does.

“The ropes would get thicker and thicker with ice, which we would have to break off.”

Gerry spent up to six weeks at a time at sea and remembers 70-feet waves.

“There was never fresh food, only tinned – and no potatoes nor bread after about four days at sea,” he added.

Gerry is pleased to have finally received the Arctic Star. “We were all pleased - we’ve been waiting so long for it,” he said.

“All that stuff we took to Russia, people objected because they were our enemies at one time but they helped us fight the war.

“At the Battle of Stalingrad, they won the war for us. If Germany had won that they would have taken over the world.”