MODEST veteran John Young has a string of medals, but he has never worn them.

The eighty-nine-year-old grandfather from Crundale can now add an Ushakov Medal from the Russian government to his collection, which pairs up with the British Arctic Star he was awarded last year.

Both medals mark the bravery of those who endured sub-zero conditions during gruelling missions to the Arctic in the Second World War.

Mr Young joined the Royal Navy aged 18, and served across Europe as a coder until 1946.

He met up with other veterans to receive his Ushakov at a recent ceremony in Cardiff.

“When I joined up they sent me straight to decoding school,” Mr Young recalled. “Myself and another lad were sent to HMS Swift. We were one of the first ships there on D-Day. Our guns were firing all day long.”

The fleet destroyer was part of the Arctic convoy, taking armaments and equipment to Russia.

Life on the convoys was horrendous, but Mr Young says the men on board his ship “never grumbled at all”, despite facing constant attack from German U-boats trying to interrupt the supply line.

“They tried to torpedo us, and the Luftwaffe were bombing us all the time,” Mr Young explained. “I was in the radio room when HMS Mahratta was torpedoed. They begged us to come and help them, but we couldn’t.”

The Swift survived the Arctic missions unscathed, but was torpedoed in June 1944.

Mr Young jumped overboard, and was picked up by a landing craft.

“We were blown in two, and I saw dead men everywhere,” he said. “I was fortunate. If my ship had been hit on an arctic convoy, I wouldn’t be here talking to you now.”

With regards to the Ushakov, the sprightly octogenarian said he “didn’t want a fuss”. “The medals are more for my grandchildren than me,” he added.

After leaving the Navy, Mr Young worked for the NHS. He now lives quietly with his wife, Loreen.