Arctic Convoy PQ17 - BBC2 Jan 2nd

[Newportnobby]

Love him or loathe him, to my mind Jeremy Clarkson produced a riveting hours worth of documentary about this ill fated convoy to Russia.
It's difficult to imagine the trials and horrors those Merchant Navy seamen went through.
It also never fails to move me how survivors talk so matter of factly about their experiences.
The final (and long overdue) award of the Arctic Star medal is a small token of what we owe those brave men

[Buzzard]

Love him or loathe him, to my mind Jeremy Clarkson produced a riveting hours worth of documentary about this ill fated convoy to Russia.
It's difficult to imagine the trials and horrors those Merchant Navy seamen went through.
It also never fails to move me how survivors talk so matter of factly about their experiences.
The final (and long overdue) award of the Arctic Star medal is a small token of what we owe those brave men

Althoght I missed this I've got the book titled PQ17 - Convoy to Hell by Paul Lund and Harry Ludlam.  Paul Lund was a survivor from the Lord Austin which if I remember correctly was one of the escort ships.

As well as all of the hardships, and there were many,  that those in the convoy had to endure the return sailing was cancelled because an aircraft carrier couldn't be provided for PQ18.  The usual routine was that the "big" navy ships only went halfway and then escorted the returning freighters to Scotland.

The book is an excellent account of the failures and successes of PQ17 and so I'll be interested to see how the documentary manages to cram everything into an hour, assuming that it's on the iplayer.

I'm glad that official recognition has been made of the men that gave everything to help Russia in WW2.

Nigel

[Agrippa]

The programme is available on BBC iplayer so you can still watch it.

[Newportnobby]

I know it's fiction but for those interested have a read of 'HMS Ulysses' by Alastair McClean.
Once started you won't be able to put it down

[Bad Raven]

So, all you needed was a defunct old Trawler and some white paint, where was the problem?


Oh, and bravery beyond belief!!!

[Graham63]

I'm in the loathe him department but it was the best bit of tele i've seen in a while. I'll also second Newport's opinion of HMS Ulysses.

[bridgiesimon]

The final (and long overdue) award of the Arctic Star medal is a small token of what we owe those brave men
[/quote]

I would like to add here that I am VERY proud that my grandfather is one of those few brave men that worked the North Atlantic fleet and the Artic Star is a very special medal he treasures a massive amount!!

I worked hard in the run up to Christmas and built him a display case for his medls so they can be on the wall in full view where they should be instead of in a drawer.

He does not talk much about what happened on those trips but on the occasion he does, the horror of what they faced blows my mind!!!

Best wishes
Simon

[Stuart]

 I watched this program quite an eye opener I thought.
So glad the medal has finally been awarded for all those heroic sailors. Well done  Jeremy Clarkson for making the program.

[Newportnobby]

The final (and long overdue) award of the Arctic Star medal is a small token of what we owe those brave men

I would like to add here that I am VERY proud that my grandfather is one of those few brave men that worked the North Atlantic fleet and the Artic Star is a very special medal he treasures a massive amount!!

I worked hard in the run up to Christmas and built him a display case for his medls so they can be on the wall in full view where they should be instead of in a drawer.

He does not talk much about what happened on those trips but on the occasion he does, the horror of what they faced blows my mind!!!

Best wishes
Simon
[/quote]

Huge respect to your grandfather, Simon.
I think only those who experienced the conditions will ever know what it was like.

[Agrippa]

I concur with NN, Simon's grandfather is a true hero, not like some overpaid Jessie running about on a football pitch and falling down at the slightest tackle.

[RST]

I actually avoided this when I saw JC's name but maybe I should watch it.  All my grandparents died when I was quite young though I know some of them saw some pretty heated action.

I always tip my hat to veterans.  Im too young to even comprehend.