A Newburgh man, who served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War, is to be honoured further for his efforts in the Russian convoys. Tom Lennie (89) is to receive the Ushahov medal from Russia, which will sit beside his Arctic Star medal presented last year by the Scottish Secretary, on behalf of the UK Government.

It will be the 14th medal for the war veteran who was a submarine detector and whose expertise helped destroy two German U-boats. A resident of Newburgh since he was two, Mr Lennie was among those who braved what Winston Churchill called “the worst journey on Earth.”

The Russian convoys consisted of vessels which travelled from Britain to northern Russia to resupply the Soviet Union during the war. An apprentice baker before the war and a chargehand at Watson’s oilskin factory in Newburgh after hostilities, Mr Lennie is the only surviving member of the Dundee branch of the Russian Convoy Club.

In addition to being under constant threat of attack from the Germans, the convoy crews also had to deal with extreme cold, storms and ice. He said: “The Russians themselves are going to give me the medal in Edinburgh some time in November or December.

“I’m delighted because we’ve waited a long time for this.” Backing for Mr Lennie receiving the latest medal has come from prominent local Legion member, Reg Briers. Married to Nancy, Mr Lennie has three sons.