‘The worst journey in the world’: A tribute to the Russian Arctic convoys
Wednesday 30 June 2021
In his role as co-chairman of the Russian Arctic Convoy Project (RACP) charity, John Casson led a team to organise an anniversary event to mark the end of World War II and honour the brave veterans that were a part of the Russian Arctic convoys.
Originally to be held on the edge of Loch Ewe, Scotland, on Saturday 16th May 2020, the 75th-anniversary event to mark the last Russian Arctic convoy to leave the loch and the end of World War II, had to be postponed several times due to Covid-19. The event is now scheduled for Saturday 7th May 2022.
Five hundred guests were anticipated to attend, including HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Sir Winston Churchill’s granddaughter Celia Sandys, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty representing Her Majesty the Queen, surviving Arctic convoy veterans and their families, families of veterans who are sadly no longer with us, guests from Russia, diplomats representing their nationals who were involved with the convoys, other dignitaries, and local people.
Conscious that the number of surviving veterans is ever-decreasing, it was decided to mark the 76th anniversary with a virtual tribute programme on Russia Victory Day, Sunday 9th May 2021. A memorial brochure, awareness lapel ribbon and a World War II ship display containing over 200 silhouettes were also commissioned by John and his team.
Silhouette ships displaying the names of veterans and the ship they served on acts as a poignant reminder on the shores of Loch Ewe.
Around 30,000 British sailors, from the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy, were involved in the convoys and braved German U-boat attacks fields of ice, and sub-zero temperatures to transport food, weapons and other critical supplies to Britain’s wartime ally, Russia.
In 78 hellish round trips, the convoys shipped a total of nearly four million tons of supplies, which allowed Russia to resist the Nazi invasion on the Eastern Front and was essential to the eventual defeat of Hitler. But more than 120 allied ships in the convoys were sunk by the German Navy, with the loss of 2,773 allied lives. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister, described the voyages as the “worst journey in the world”.
‘The Worst Journey in the World’: The Story of the Russian Arctic Convoys
The 45-minute tribute was watched live by hundreds of people around the world and has had over 5,000 views since, to great acclaim. The programme was planned to be educational while offering a chance to remember the brave sailors, with all age groups in mind, from children learning about the convoys and World War II, to veterans themselves.
John Casson MBE, wearing the Russian Arctic Convoy awareness ribbon
Discussing the tribute, John said:
“These brave sailors, who endured unimaginable conditions, freezing weather and were under almost constant enemy fire, deserve to be remembered for their heroism and sacrifice. Whilst our commemorations were halted in 2020, we were determined this year to honour the veterans and show our thanks to them and their families for their incredible efforts. We will remember them.”
It featured interviews with five Arctic convoy veterans, Prince Michael of Kent, the Russian Consul General in Edinburgh, and Celia Sandys, Sir Winston Churchill’s granddaughter. Archive footage from British Pathé, and the BBC Landward programme, A Visit to Loch Ewe, were also included.
HRH Prince Michael of Kent before he makes his address to camera at Kensington Palace
Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill before she makes her address to camera at her home in London
The World War II silhouette ships, featuring names of veterans that were sponsored by friends and family, were also showcased. They will also be displayed at the postponed event next May and the RACP’s Museum once refurbishments and extensions have been completed. To mark the poignant occasion, Francis Russell and Peter Harrison from the charity also laid wreaths at the Cove memorial site at Loch Ewe.
Remembering the Russian Arctic Convoys, the memorial at Loch Ewe
Comments regarding the tribute so far include:
“Thank you to all who contributed to this film. I will be watching this again. This helps raise awareness about the convoys.”
“Thank you very much to all who put this program together – it was very well done. My late Dad was an asdic petty officer in HMS ‘Essington’ on JW61A…In the video I particularly liked the Tolstoy quotation by the Russian consul in Edinburgh which went something like, “It is important to learn the history of our fathers and grandfathers, not to be proud of them, but to be worthy of them.”
“Got to keep the memories alive for future generations. It was nice to see veterans that we’ve met a few times at different events and reunions at Loch Ewe. Lest we forget.”
“Really interesting watch. My father Joe Donovan went to Murmansk twice – he was sunk with the Empire Purcell on PQ16 and again on the return journey when the convoy strayed into a British minefield off Iceland. Six months later he went back and managed to stay out of the water. Great work RACP … keep it up.”
John played a key part in the tribute, from the planning process and ideas to arranging who would be appearing in the film. This was the first programme John has produced, and he worked very closely with the film production company, Glass Bullet Media. John appeared in the film himself to highlight the important work the Museum does in remembering what the veterans went through over 76 years ago. He also arranged sponsorship from Gazprom and liaised with the family of David Lynch, a Convoy veteran who left the RACP a donation in his will.
Reflecting on the film, John said: “I am very proud of this programme and the impact it has had on so many people. Throughout the process of planning the anniversary events, we have now had even more veterans from the convoys reach out, and it’s an inspiration to hear their stories. They must never be forgotten.”
The film is now available to watch on the RACP’s YouTube and Facebook pages, at any time.
