THE son of a hero from the Arctic war convoys has been reunited with one of his comrades thanks to the Evening Post.
Chris Maddock was reading through the Tuesday's paper when he came across the story about his courageous late dad Len.
Len's comrade Ken Beard appealed through the publication for family members to get in touch with him to ensure he is awarded the Arctic star.
The pair served alongside each other onboard the convoys delivering aid to Russia during the Second World War.
Now both sides have been brought together through the article.
Port Talbot Mr Maddock, aged 56, an information and communications technology lecturer at Gower College Swansea, said he was pleased to be put back in touch with Mr Beard.
Mr Maddock said: "I recognised the picture in the paper as I still have the original. I have lost touch with Ken and I'm grateful to be in touch with him again.
"I was unaware my dad had been wounded in action as he didn't talk about the conflict much.
Dad of three Mr Maddock added: "It was nice to see the story about him in the paper and to know Ken is about. I had a real sense of pride reading about him."
"We have never had peace as a world and I hope people take a look at what happened in the Second World War and never want to go through that again."
Mr Maddock, who has since died, was aboard HMS La Malouine and was in charge of the sick bay of the corvette type ship escorting the arms-carrying convoy in the icy waters of the North Atlantic in 1942. The vessel came under attack from German planes, ships and U-boats. There were 400 survivors but a total of 37 ships were lost and only seven or eight made it to the then Soviet Union safely. Dad-of-three Mr Beard, aged 89, of Ludgershall in Wiltshire, has called for Mr Maddock, who has since died, to be recognised for his contribution.
He said he was thrilled to be reunited with Mr Maddock's family.
"I am very pleased to be back in touch with his family — Len was a great fellow," Mr Maddock added. "Thank you to the Evening Post. Len worked so hard and deserves to be recognised with a medal."
