British World War Two navy hero who was honoured by Vladimir Putin for ... trends now
A Second World War Navy hero who served in what Winston Churchill called 'the most dangerous journey in the world' escorting supply ships to Russia while under the threat of U-boats has died aged 98.
Edwin Cross, known as Ted, was just 18 when he embarked on active service as a radio operator on HMS Westcott and would go on to several dangerous missions in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and in the Channel during D-Day operations.
But it was for their role in keeping a supply chain open to Russia as the Red Army helped turn the tide of the war against Hitler that the ship would become renowned.
Great grandfather Mr Cross served as a radar operator on HMS Westcott from June 1943 to May 1945, making seven return trips to the USSR across the Arctic Ocean in that time - in perilous journeys under the constant threat of Nazi U-boat torpedoes. Some 3,000 sailors were killed on the missions.
Ten years ago he and surviving colleagues were finally honoured for their bravery in keeping the Russians supplied during WWII with medals presented in Downing Street.
Second World War navy hero Edwin Cross has died aged 98
Mr Cross embarked on active service aged 18 and went on several dangerous missions during the D-Day operations
He served as a radar operator aboard HMS Westcott from June 1943 to May 1945, making seven return trips to the USSR across the Arctic Ocean
Mr Cross and his surviving colleagues were finally honoured for their bravery in keeping the Russians supplied, in a ceremony attended by Vladimir Putin
Mr Cross went on several missions in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Channel
Mr Cross, in an interview with his local newspaper then, recalled how difficult and dangerous the missions had been.
‘The cold was bitter and the ship was covered in ice at times,’ he said. ‘[But] we were in the Navy, we were on a ship and there’s nothing else we could do.
‘I don’t remember anybody being scared. Maybe they were, maybe I was, but that was what you had to do.
