A WAR veteran who campaigned tirelessly for recognition for the part the British Navy played in escorting merchant ships taking crucial supplies to Russia during the Second World War has been honoured.

Today (Friday, June 26), John Ramsey was presented with two medals, including one of the highest accolades from the Russian government, The Ushakov medal, in recognition of his bravery during the treacherous campaign. The second was a specially designed 70th anniversary medal.

The sprightly 90-year-old was the guest of honour at a special ceremony at Redcar's Sacred Heart School when the town's newly elected MP Anna Turley pinned the medals to the proud veterans chest.

Mr Ramsey, who served in the Royal Navy for ten years, was one of the thousands of seamen who risked their lives to supply food and essential supplies to Russia between August 1941 and May 1945.

"I have a list of names and telephone of many men who served in the Arctic Convoys but often when I call them these days more often than not I am told the person has died," he said. "With our numbers dwindling it is really important to ensure people know about the sacrifice that was made during the war.

"There were plenty of young men from Redcar, Middlesbrough and Guisborough who didn't make it back, so it is important to keep the memory alive."

The seaman gunner served on the battleship Rodney which was sent to guard convoys in case the German battleship Tirpitz got among them.

Earlier in the war, he was involved in the invasions of Sicily and Italy and later, the D-Day landings.

The Redcar lad joined the Navy in 1942 when he was just 17-years-old. On one convoy, only 11 ships got through. British ships were taking vital war materials to help the Russians fight the Germans on the Eastern front.

Winston Churchill said it was: “The most dangerous journey in the world.”

(CORR) Liudmila Lawson, a retired Russian schoolteacher who is married to a Redcar man, attended the ceremony to pay tribute to the men who are still hail as heroes in her home country.

"People in Russian recognise the white cap that the seamen wear and will always stop and speak to them," she said. "In my country these seamen are heroes for what they did ensuring supplies got through, especially during the horrendous winter conditions.

"There is a strong link between the people of Russia and the sailors which is why they are honoured with the medal of highest distinction."

Year 9 students joined two members of Zetland Sea Cadets to pay tribute to the veteran when he laid a small wreath at the school's memorial garden.

Headteacher Pat Sivewright (CORR) said: "It is a great honour to have John here as a guest of honour and pay tribute to John's generation, many of whom gave up their lives."

Redcar MP Anna Turley added: "To think of the sacrifice that John, and countless others from his generation, gave during the war effort and the huge number of lives that they saved, is truly humbling."