A Royal Navy veteran described sailing with the convoys that kept Russian people and soldiers fed and armed during World War Two as 'hell', 80 years on from when the first voyage began.
As the current situation in Europe descends into a living nightmare for Ukrainians following Putin's military invasion, the fortuitous timing of a new exhibition has been unveiled to remind us of the cooperation, even friendship, that existed between the UK and the Russian people during Europe's darkest days.
The exhibition marks 80 years since Arctic Convoys left Liverpool for Russian ports, playing a vital role in keeping Soviet Russia from falling to the Nazis.
READ MORE: Surprise find by Nazi gold hunters on sunken U-boat that wouldn’t surrender
The Arctic Convoys were a main theatre of the war at sea during World War Two, and played a crucial role in providing food and arms to the Eastern Front between 1941 and 1945.
Described by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as 'The worst journey in the world', it was an operation on an unprecedented scale with more than 40 countries and a dozen fleets taking part.
As part of ‘Operation Dervish’, the Arctic Convoys first left Liverpool in August 1941, loaded with military supplies to support Soviet efforts in fighting Nazi Germany.
The ships endured freezing Arctic seas patrolled by German U-Boats, surface ships and aircraft before arriving in the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk in the North of Russia.
The convoys saw 1,400 merchant ships make the journey between 1941 and 1945, carrying four million tons of supplies for use by Soviet forces fighting on the Eastern Front.
They faced perils such as Nazi sea and air power, horrific weather, and weeks of darkness. 3,000 people, 85 merchant vessels and 16 Royal Navy were lost.
The Liverpool Echo took the opportunity to speak to two veterans of those treacherous voyages on the opening day of the exhibition, held in the Western Approaches Museum on Rumford Street in Liverpool city centre.
Images from the archives of the Arctic Convoys, their battles, and the brave veterans who spoke to the Liverpool Echo in the gallery below
Two of the Arctic Convoy veterans, Bernard Gough, 97, and Alexander Crowe, 99, sailed to Russia from Liverpool in the 1940s and spoke about their experiences of those harrowing missions.
Bernard, who lives in Chester, agreed with Churchill's statement that the convoys were 'The worst journey in the world'.
On protecting the merchant fleets carrying the strategic supplies, he said: "As we got out in the open the convoys went into three or four lanes. And the lanes had an outer screen of destroyers...this was when it was really rough."
After being asked about the experiences he remembered being particularly life threatening, it was in the look, and what he Bernard didn't say, that revealed the most.
He added: "I was in the navy for a lot of time and will admit, it was hell let loose, believe you and me.
"The thing is I can honestly say we had our rough times. When the big stuff to come in and they had the range from the big guns they had.
"It was an experience that I wouldn't like to do again."
As well as the dangers posed by the Nazi U-boats and warships, there were the freezing Arctic temperatures that saw the decks of the destroyers and ships escorting the supply convoys covered in thick sheets of ice.
Alexander Gough, who will be 100 years old in October later this year, was an armourer in the Royal Navy on the convoys, serving on several aircraft carriers.
Originally from Glasgow, the veteran settled in Liverpool after the war and now lives in Childwall.
He told the ECHO about a terrifying encounter with the German Navy off the extreme northwest coast of Russia.
Alexander said: "We heard this terrific noise going on and it was the destroyers attacking the submarines at the entrance with depth charges."
In another encounter, the warship he was stationed on was sent to attack the German forces around Nazi occupied Norway.
He said: "There was a couple of ships next to us that got torpedoed. There was a Canadian ship next to us, they got hit and there was quite a lot of Canadians killed.
Adding: "I can hear it yet, the noises. I can still hear the thuds - it's quite scary."
The exhibition by education and heritage specialists Big Heritage, is housed in the former bunker at the Western Approaches Museum on permanent display.
It aims to commemorate the bravery of those who served on the convoys and serves as a reminder of links of friendship and collaboration that historically existed between East and West in our greatest time of need.
Dean Paton, founder and director of education and heritage specialists Big Heritage, Western Approach’s parent organisation, said: “The Arctic Convoys were led by men showing some exceptional bravery.
"After departing from Liverpool, the sailors faced incredibly arduous conditions, so we hope this permanent exhibition will honour and pay tribute to their heroism and sacrifice.
“Bringing leaders from Russia and the UK together into Western Approaches in Liverpool is an honour for us - and shows what can be achieved when our two countries work together.
"This is an example of true collaboration between East and West, which needs both recognising and celebrating.”
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