George Gray, who will be 89 on 2 April, already has five medals from the Russian Government for his role as a merchant navy sailor in what wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill called ‘the worst journey in the world’.

And now he has been presented with a limited edition watch produced in Moscow for convoy heroes.

They sailed from Scotland with vital supplies for Russia, but faced a gauntlet of submarine, air and battleship attacks in sub-zero conditions.

George sailed on convoy tanker San Venancio from Greenock to Murmansk in 1945.

He said: “It was grim — very cold with lots of snow and the constant threat of attack.” The convoys carried four million tonnes of cargo, including tanks, fuel and food, between 1941 and 1945.

The Russians have never forgotten the sacrifice made by the naval and merchant seamen — 2,800 of whom died when their ships were sunk.

George said: “I was absolutely astounded when a representative of the Russian Government visited Greenock to give me the watch.

“It’s good to know that they remember the convoy members after all this time.” A special message on the watch box states: “To the veteran of the Arctic Convoys 1941-45 from the Russian Military Historical Society.” An accompanying note says: “This is to certify that this unique watch, with mechanical winding mechanism, is an authentic Vostok 2414A Arctic Convoys limited anniversary edition chronograph.

“It has been entirely manufactured by the master watchmakers of Vostok in Moscow on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory in the Second World War, and is owned by George Smith Gray.” It adds that George’s watch is number nine out of 315 manufactured for the anniversary.

George also has five medals from the UK Government and one from Holland for his wartime service.

He was one of the leading campaigners in a successful long-running fight for the British government to award an Arctic Star medal.