Arctic Star medal for war hero Isaac

Lord Lieutenant of Co Antrim, Joan Christie OBE, presents the Arctic Star medal to war veteran Isaac Higginson. INNT 27-527CON

Isaac Higginson, who served in the Royal Navy during the 1939 - 1945 conflict, received the medal from the Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE following Sunday’s Battle of the Somme memorial service held in Ballyclare’s War Memorial Park.

After the formal proceedings, Mrs Christie handed over the medal to a proud 95-year-old Mr Higginson at the Royal British Legion in Ballyclare.

RBL Branch Secretary, Alex Murray welcomed the fact that Mr Higginson and his fellow veterans of the Arctic Convoys had finally been recognised by the UK government for their bravery on the dreaded ‘Russian run’ - a route Winston Churchill described as “the worst journey in the world.”

“He’s been waiting for it for 70 years, as have all the veterans of the Arctic Convoys,” said Mr Murray.

“This has been a long time coming.”

Mr Higginson was on board the RMS Laconia when it was torpedoed and sunk 600 miles off the African coast in 1942.

He was rescued by a German submarine crew.

He left the Navy in 1948 following campaigns in Japan with HMS Black Prince.