Manchester veteran, Bob Booth, 100, honoured for Norway convoy service

A World War Two veteran is being recognised for his service to protect merchant shipping during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Bob Booth, 100, from Manchester joined the Royal Navy at 18, and has been awarded three Norwegian medals for his service.

He helped to keep the Allies supplied with weapons and food during the war.

The seaman served throughout the conflict despite the constant risk of attack by German U-boats.

Mr Booth, from Baguley in Wythenshawe, told BBC Radio Manchester: "The seas in the North Atlantic were notorious.

"Sometimes it would be very nice and calm. At other times, waves would be crashing down on the ships.

"The speed of the convoys was kept at the speed of the slowest ship, which was sometimes about eight knots. It meant we were open targets for the German U-boats".

In April 1940, Germany invaded Norway and the Norwegian merchant fleet sailed for Allied ports.

Those ships played a vital part in the war effort, transporting food, weapons and fuel as part of the Atlantic Convoys.

Mr Booth served as a Royal Navy gunner on board one of those ships - called The Troubadour.

He said: "In convoys, you didn't know if you were going to be the next ship torpedoed. The convoy still carried on - but quite often there were one, two or three merchant ships which were sunk."

The Norwegian government is now recognising those who served on their merchant ships during the war.

He received the Convoy Cup Medal, The Camp Norway Medal and a Medallion to commemorate the Liberation of Norway.

Wiktor Molleskog, a former Norwegian sea captain who presented Mr Booth with his medals at his home, said: "If you go by what President Roosevelt said - and what Churchill said - they both agreed that the Allies probably wouldn't have won the war, if it hadn't been for the Norwegian fleet - especially the tankers, transporting the aviation fuel."

His granddaughter, Alison Manion, said: "Grandad was always very quiet about his wartime service and didn't really talk about it.

"It's only been in his later years that he's started to talk more and it's just fascinating. My grandad is a hero.

"When you hear his stories and how he just downplays everything - it is just incredible and we're all just so completely proud of him."

She said: "To see him with his medals round his neck - it's just so heart-warming. He's 100 years old and nobody deserves it more than my grandad."

The sailor also served in the Mediterranean and the English Channel, supporting troops who invaded France on D-Day.

After the war, Mr Booth married Peggy in 1946 and they had three children.

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