Arctic convoys

During the last war we shipped thousands of tons of guns, ammuniton and food to Russia via the Arctic Circle. These convoys were very vulnerable, being in range of German U-boats and submarines. The conditions were abominable even in the summer. The ships needed to be kept ice free at all times so they wouldn't become top heavy, turn turtle and sink. If a man fell into the water his life expectancy was virtually nil. Although hundreds of ships were lost on these convoys, many got through. After the war a grateful Russian Government wanted to present a medal to all the sailors involved, but the British Government would not allow this. Neither did they issue a medal themselves. Their view was that the crews had got the Atlantic medal and that was good enough.To distinguish themselves the surviving sailors, both Merchant and RN, adopted a white beret to represent the ice and cold they'd battled against.
A continuing campagne has been waged to get these men the special recognition they deserved, but it wasn't until a few months ago that the British Government backed down. After 60 years they issued an addition - the size of a button - to the Atlantic medal.
I watched some of these survivors, now in their 80s, parade past the Cenotaph and wondered how any had lived through such conditions.

WHITE CAPS

Within the shipyard dark and bleak
Stand gantries craned towards the North
Where convoy ships, their cargo held
In value more than men are worth,

Towards the Arctic Circle speed.
Their mercy missions must not fail,
‘Spite foe, ‘spite cruel winter sea,
‘Spite flesh burnt off by glacial rail.

Then come the bombs, the pounding guns,
The sinking into creaking ice.
Plump corpses swell the churning waves,
No longer flinch from cold’s sharp vice

But float secure in velvet Death.
Forgotten now, heroic men
Who gave their all for country’s needs.
Who care’s now what happened then?

Years later round a cenotaph
Old men in bleak remembrance stand,
Grieve for the shipmates who were lost
Wipe rheumy tears with palsied hand.

No special medal on their breasts,
We do not honour as we ought.
To shared award we kindly add
A button as an afterthought.