Arctic Star awarded after sailor's death

Mr Webb is believed to have taken part in around 13 convoys, dubbed 'the most dangerous journey in the world' by Winston Churchill, between 1942 and 1946.

And, seven years after his death, the sailor, from Tipton, has been honoured with the Arctic Star medal thanks to the efforts of his proud son Paul.

The medal recognises service between 1941 and 1945 delivering vital aid to the Soviet Union, running the gauntlet of enemy submarine, air and surface ship attacks.

The government announced last year that Royal Navy and merchant sailors, airmen and soldiers who survived the four-year campaign could apply for the medals.

The campaign cost the lives of around 3,000 sailors and merchant seamen, and over 100 civilian and military ships were lost, with the nadir coming in the summer of 1942 when convoy PQ17 was mauled by the Luftwaffe and 9 U-boats.

Beyond the threat of the enemy, the men endured terrible weather conditions, the darkness of the polar winter and 24-hour daylight at the height of summer. If ships were sunk, sailors perished in minutes in waters barely above freezing.

Mr Webb's son said his father had rarely spoken of his wartime experiences and it was only in recent years he had learned more of his exploits at sea.

And the 60-year-old had 'made it his mission' to ensure his father received the accolade for his efforts during the conflict.

"It has been a long process because the medals were first issued to surviving veterans, then their widows and finally next of kin," he said.

"However I am delighted my father has now been presented with the award. All those who served on those convoys were very brave.

"My father was unable to swim although I assume it would have been a requirement for service in the Navy. I don't know how he did it but he got through."

Mr Webb said after joining the Navy at the age of 18 his father trained at HMS Raleigh, at Torpoint, in Devon, and had wanted to serve on the HMS Hood.

He was instead assigned to the HMS Scorpion where he was a gunner.

Although he was disappointed at the time it saved his life as the Hood was sunk by the German battleship Bismarck.

Mr Webb said: "If my father had his way at the time I would not be here now. His friend was assigned to the Hood and was killed."

His main assignment during the conflict was on the Arctic convoys, escorting Merchant Navy ships filled with supplies being transported to Murmansk in Russia.

It was the convoys' mission to protect the ships from attack by German U-boats.

The convoys to Murmansk were renowned as being among the toughest with conditions rough and icy.

Mr Webb said his father had also been involved in a battle with the German ship Scharnhorst. That ship had been hit and the sailor helped to pull many of the German crew from the water.

He was also in the fleet which escorted Winston Churchill across the Atlantic to America for talks with the US President.

Mr Webb attended the Central School, in Tipton, and is survived by son Paul and daughter Sharon.

He has three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr Webb said: "I wanted to do this for him to recognise his service during the conflict and I am really pleased he has now received the award."

Mr Webb was also serving aboard ship during D-Day and helped to evacuate soldiers from the beaches.

His son said he father was not eligible for the D-Day medal as he did not set foot on the beaches himself – his duties keeping him aboard ship.

After leaving the Navy, Mr Webb worked at Beans Industries in Tipton which provided castings for the car industry.

He was a castings inspector at the long-running firm for 27 years.