RU04 – Arctic Convoys I


       
Stitchers (Edinburgh): Leona J Thomas, Steve Shillito, Iris Mathers, Susan Lonie, Joanne Lonie.

In World War Two Loch Ewe in Wester Ross provided a sheltered anchorage for Arctic convoys to assemble before sailing to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in Russia. British, American, Russian and Panamanian ships left in convoy PQ18 in September 1942. One board the anti-Aircraft cruiser HMS Ulster Queen was diesel-greaser Leonard H Thomas, whose poems, sketches, and diaries reveal details of that perilous voyage. Thirteen merchant ships were lost but twenty-eight arrived in Arkhangelsk to supply the Russians. They then returned to Loch Ewe on 30 November 1942. The men of the convoys were awarded the Ushakov medal by the Russians but only received recognition from the British government in 2013 with the issue of the Arctic Star medal. 

RU04 Comhailteachdan an Artaig – PQ18 & HMS Ulster Queen
Anns an Dàrna Cogadh Mòr, bha Loch Iùbh ann an Taobh Siar Rois a’ solarachadh acarsaid fhasgach do longan-cogaidh an Artaig airson tighinn còmhla mus seòladh iad gu Murmansk agus Arkhangelsk san Ruis. Dh’fhàg soithichean Breatannach, Aimeireaganch, Ruiseanach agus Panamàinian ann an comhailteachd PQ18 san tSultain 1942. Air bòrd a’ chòrsair HMS Ulster Queen, bha an crèisear dìosail Leonard H Thomas, agus tha na dàin, sgeidsichean agus leabhraichean-latha aige a’ taisbeanadh mionfhiosrachadh mun bhòidse gàbhaidh sin. Chaidh trì deug soithichean marsanta a chall ach ràinig fichead ’s a h-ochd ann an Arkhangelsk le solar do na Ruiseanaich. Thill iad an uair sin gu Loch Iùbh air 30 Samhain 1942. Chaidh bonn Ushakov a bhuileachadh air na fir anns na comhailteachdan leis na Ruiseanaich ach cha d’ fhuair iad aithne bho riaghaltas Bhreatainn gu 2013, nuair a thugadh Bonn Rionnag an Artaig dhaibh.