Roy Barclay, 79, from Elmwood Crescent, Dawlish, who set about a campaign 30 years ago to gain recognition for the Merchant Navy, and received a medal from the Russian government, has been given another.
Mr Barclay, whose family have been connected to the Merchant Navy for 150 years, spent nearly 40 years serving as an engineer and sailed on many merchant ships.
The last ship that he served on was in 1967, and it was then that he decided to fight for recognition for what he and other sailors did in the last world war. He felt that the Merchant Navy was a forgotten navy and something needed to be done about it.
On learning that someone who had worked in the Royal Navy on escort ships was presented with a medal from the Russian government, he wrote to the Russian Embassy in London asking for a medal, or some sort of recognition for what they did. They then sent back a letter thanking him and his comrades, but no medal.
This angered Mr Barclay, who then wrote a letter to Mikhail Gorbachov, who at that time was the Russian leader, telling him of his plight. Within a fortnight, a letter came sailing through the letter box with a medal inside it.
He replied saying that if Gorbachov was ever in town, he would take him out for a pint!
Mr Barclay is the first Merchant Navy Officer to receive a medal for the Merchant Navy and is very proud of this fact. He even wrote to John Prescott, asking for a Merchant Navy day. He was successful in his application, and Mr Prescott granted September 30 – as of next year – Merchant Navy Day.
Last week, Mr Barclay received his second medal commemorating the Russian Victory over Germany. He was asked to attend a special presentation in London, but due to ill health was not able to make it.
'It makes me feel good and proud of what we did,' said Mr Barclay, ' I'm glad that the Russian government can recognise our achievements.'