A 91-YEAR-OLD war veteran who took part in gruelling missions across the arctic more than 70 years ago has been awarded a medal honouring his efforts.

Stanley Ferguson, of Westview Cottages, Leece was one of 66,500 British soldiers who worked on board the North Atlantic Convoys which transported vital supplies to Russia during the second World War.

Last Saturday, Mr Ferguson was finally decorated with an Ushakov medal, given to him by officials from the Russian embassy.

Mr Ferguson was delighted with the presentation and his daughter Heather Hanson said: "I was quite taken back and I didn't know what to expect but absolutely he's over the moon.

READ: Falklands veteran opens up about the horrors of war and living with PTSD

"The lady from the embassy had so much time for him and sat and listened to all his anecdotes - I think she got more than she bargained for but she was just lovely."

Mr Ferguson was called up to the army when he was 18 years old but had already attempted to volunteer before his birthday.

Mrs Hanson said: "He doesn't consider himself as brave, he was just doing what everyone else did.

"He didn't used to talk about it much but he has started since the medals came along.

"He wasn't injured, he didn't lose his life, it just wasn't the thing to talk about it but he's got a fantastic memory still."

The Arctic Convoys were ordered by prime minister Winston Churchill during the Second World War to supply the Soviet Union on the eastern front.

He labelled the perilous missions as "the worst journey in the world."

After receiving his medal, Mr Ferguson told tales of his journeys on board the convoys, saying how he remembered walking on the walls of the boats because the seas were always so choppy the boat could never sail straight.

READ: Residents urged to rethink remembrance in honour of war heroes of today

Mrs Hanson also said embassy staff were taking Ushakov medals to others across the area.

If you or someone in your family has received an Ushakov medal and you would like to share your story with us, please get in touch at news.em@cnmedia.co.uk