ARCTIC Convoys veteran Joe Grant proudly holds a medal from Russia to commemorate 75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War from 1941-1945.

The 94-four-old pensioner from Trowbridge was awarded the medal for his role on the aircraft carrier HMS Indefatigable with the WW2 Arctic Convoys.

Mr Grant, of Haydon Road, Trowbridge said he was "very pleased" to receive the medal, which arrived from the Russian Embassy in London.

The citation from Russia’s ambassador Andrei Kelin said: “It is a great honour for me to thank you and your comrades-in-arms on behalf of the Russian Government for what you have done to help defeat Nazi Germany 75 years ago."

“Russian people do remember the dramatic and heroic story of the Arctic Convoys - a period of unique collaboration between Russia and Britain.”

During the war, the Arctic Convoys delivered more than four million tonnes of much-needed cargo to Russia, including 7,000 airplanes, 5,000 tanks, trucks, tyres, fuel and food.