A NAVY veteran who helped Russia survive the hardships of war has been honoured - 75 years on.

Dougie Shelley has been awarded a commemorative medal on behalf of the Russian Government, “75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941 to 1945”.

Mr Shelley, from Southend, was a Seaman Gunner on the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War.

He helped the supply of vital resources to the Soviet Union, helping the war effort on the Eastern Front, before being posted to the Pacific.

He faced huge dangers during his time in the Arctic Convoy. The convoy sailed on a route around the north of Norway, at times close to German bases, and faced attacks by German submarines, aircraft and warships, suffering huge losses.

The conditions were extremely dangerous, not only due to the risks from the enemy, but due to extreme cold.

After the war, Mr Shelley worked for the Ministry of Defence, Merchant Navy and in security. Now aged 95, he attends the Veteran’s Club, run by SSAFA, the armed forces charity in Southend, which has supported him for many years.

He said: “All told, I’ve had all six Russian convoy medals now - the 40th, 50, 60th, 70th and a special one given by President Putin. The Artic Convoy played a big part in the war, no doubt.

“Out of seven destroyers in the convoy, three got torpedoed but when they fired a torpedo at us it missed by 6ft. It was 40 degrees below zero.

“Someone was going to come and present this medal but because of the coronavirus they couldn’t. They had to post it instead . I’m very proud to receive it. There’s not many of us left now.”

Mr Shelley added: “SSAFA means a lot to me because they have done so much for me. People don’t realise how affected veterans are by the things they saw.”

From August 1941 to May 1945, the convoys delivered more than 4 million tons of cargo to Russia.