ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

It’s a good job the patient ex-servicemen of the Arctic convoys are used to waiting.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister David Cameron announced amid great fanfare that the Government had finally decided to issue a medal for the veterans of the Second World War convoys to Russia – 70 years after the event.

It was recognised that the convoys required enormous bravery, battling not only the Germans but also with horrendous weather.

Johnnie Berrill, 89, was one such veteran.

He served on two convoys aboard HMS Intrepid; the first in November 1941 to Archangel, the second in January 1942 to Murmansk.

As soon as the medals were announced Mr Berrill’s younger brother-in-law, Peter Dennis, helped him fill in the application form.

But three months later they are still waiting.

Mr Dennis said: “I’ve rung several times to chase, but they say that although there are fewer than 200 of the veterans left alive, they have been inundated with 26,000 requests from veteran’s families and it’s taking a long time to process.

“Surely they have it all wrong. They should deal with the applications from the veterans themselves before they process those of family members.

“Many don’t have long to live – they may never get to see their medal.”

Mr Berrill was already a sea cadet when the war broke out. When he reached his 17th birthday, he immediately volunteered. He said the weather had been the most frightening thing on the Arctic runs. He added: “It was so cold, you couldn’t touch a rail on deck with your bare hand – your skin would come way.”

The Intrepid survived the Arctic convoys unharmed, but Mr Berrill was still on board when she was sunk by dive bombers in the Mediterranean in 1943.

Mr Berrill is now waiting patiently in his Harrietsham nursing home for news of his medal.