MORE than 1,000 people have now signed a petition asking the Government to honour the Arctic Convoy heroes of the Second World War with a medal.

Following the launch of The Gazette’s campaign last week, hundreds of people have shown their support by joining a Facebook group and signing an e-petition.

Supporting the campaign is 92-year-old Roy Dykes, from Whitchurch, who took part in 16 Arctic Convoy missions between 1941 and 1945.

Despite campaigning for 15 years, and being promised by the Conservatives – before they came to power in the Coalition Government – that he and the remaining 200 survivors would receive a medal, this has still not happened.

Speaking at the House of Commons in January, Prime Minister David Cameron said that the Arctic Convoy veterans had “missed out” and added: “It would be good if we could do something more to recognise what they have done.”

But a letter sent by the Prime Minister to Sir George Young, Leader of the Commons and North West Hampshire MP, suggested he has now back-tracked because the veterans have already been recognised with the Atlantic Star medal that was extended to those who served on the Arctic Convoys.

Mr Dykes, who was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, said he qualified for the Atlantic Star medal in 1939 – before even setting out on an Arctic Convoy.

Sir George has previously backed the campaign for the veterans to be honoured, but the MP this week refused to speak to The Gazette about the issue.

Instead, Joanna Woods, his constituency office manager, forwarded a letter from MP Andrew Robathan, minister for defence personnel, welfare and veterans, and said: “Sir George has nothing further to add to this.”

The letter was in reply to a letter sent by Sir George on November 15, regarding recognition for the Arctic Convoy veterans. Mr Robathan said: “It is clear in the criteria for the Atlantic Star medal that this medal was extended to those who served in the Arctic”, and he claimed that this recognition was “welcomed by the majority of veterans.”

Mr Robathan referred to an independent review agreed by the Government of the rules governing the award of military medals, which will make use of a previous internal review already carried out by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). He added: “It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any potential outcome.”

A spokesman for the MoD said the Government is expected to announce the scope of the new review, and who will lead it, shortly.

Despite previously supporting the Arctic Convoy medal campaign, Sir George was not on the list of 47 MPs who signed a petition for the Arctic Convoy heroes to be awarded a medal.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller and North East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot were also absent from the petition, which referred to “strong cross-party support” for an official campaign medal, and to the promises made by Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders that this would happen if they came to power.

Set up in 2010 by Angus Roberson, of the Scottish National Party, the petition added: “Surviving veterans are now in their 80s and 90s, and requests that the question of whether an Arctic medal should be created should be dealt with quickly so that as many of them as possible can receive the medal they deserve.”

To sign the e-petition visit http://epetitions.direct. gov.uk/petitions/5211</> and you can also join our Facebook group ‘Honour the Arctic Convoy Heroes.’