SEVEN war veterans from Colne have been given medals for their service on the Arctic Convoys more than 70 years ago.

Officials from the Russian Embassy travelled up to the town’s Royal British Legion club to hand out the honours.

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Four of the Naval servicemen were there to receive them, while the remaining three medals were collected by relatives of the late veterans.

The event was organised by the Skipton and District branch of the Royal Naval Association because the Colne area has no branch.

Alan Hague, secretary of the branch, said: “It was a special day for everyone involved. These medals are given out for service during the Second World War.

“It was only in 2012 that the British government allowed the medals to be handed out.

“There are 3,500 medals to be distributed but normally you have to go the Russian Embassy to collect them, which is too expensive from this part of the world.

“So we decided to hold the event here for these seven veterans in Colne and we invited the Russian Embassy to come up and hand out the medals.

“These men were on the Arctic Convoys and their service was absolutely vital.”

John Emmott’s son collected the medal on his father’s behalf. Mr Emmott joined the Army in 1939 as a 16-year-old and was sunk four times in his Naval career, surviving every time.

The widow of Robert Jackson, Irene, collected her husband’s medal. He served on HMS Rodney and was present at the D-Day landings.

The awarding of the medal also came too late for Jack Tempest, who joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 15. His brother Lewis received it on his behalf.

Robert Taylor, 92, and Edward Shipley, 91, attended the same school in Colne before joining the Navy, and they were both in attendance to received the medal.

A third class-mate, Irvine Pickles, also joined the Navy, but he died at the age of 19 when his ship was torpedoed. Also on that ship was another Colne lad, 89-year-old Denis Macro, who lived to tell the tale and received his medal at the ceremony.

Finally, 95-year-old William Balmforth, who joined the Royal Navy in 1940, was also presented with his medal.