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Russian and British veterans will celebrate 9 May 2011 Victory Day on HMS Belfast in London

Posted by Editor on Wednesday, 04 May 2011 09:12 | Published in International Relations & Trade
Scene of 2010 celnbrations abpoartd HMS Belfast

 

By Eugene Kasevin

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Second World War Second Front (start of the Great Patriotic War in the USSR) and the first Arctic Convoy “Dervish” that sailed with provisions to the Soviet Union in August 1941.

Once again Russian and British veterans of Arctic Convoys (1941-1945) will gather on board HMS Belfast, a branch of the Imperial War Museum in London, to commemorate their shipmates who have given their lives to the course of Victory over fascism in 1945. HMS Belfast is the legendary “last witness” Royal Navy cruiser that took part in the Arctic Convoys in 1943. Many guests will gather to celebrate the bravery and the heroism of British and Russian navy during their dangerous conquest of the Arctic in the dark days of the Second World War.

 

This commemorative event, continually supported by the Russia’s largest investment bank VTB Capital, will take place on Monday 9 May 2011 in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent, the Ambassador of Russian Federation Alexander Yakovenko, the Lord Mayor of London, Lord Alan West and other dignitaries. The veterans and the guests will commemorate the heroes with the minute silence, the end of which will be marked by gunfire from HMS Belfast. This will be followed by playing both the Russian and British national anthems.

The formal ceremony will be followed by the British old naval tradition of the “Up Spirits!” toast with Pusser’s Rum, not missing out on the Russian tradition of “To Victory!” toast with the Russian Standard Vodka. The veterans and the guests will have the time to reflect and exchange their memories to the military music from the Royal Artillery Band.

Olga Podoinitsyna, Member of the Board at VTB Capital, stated: “We take special pride in continuing our support for the Arctic Convoys commemoration of Victory Day from its very beginning in 2007. This excellent initiative highlights one of the most heroic chapters of the Second World War and is a great example of the solidarity between Russia and Britain during and after the war. VTB Capital is committed to strengthening ties between the Russian and UK business communities and this moving tribute to our shared history is a part of that goal.”

The founding organiser, Eugene Kasevin, congratulates every remaining veteran of the Second World War in all countries and invites international communities to take interest in the historic role that the Arctic Convoys have played and the ongoing tradition of commemorative remembrance that this event is achieving every year.

The organiser expresses gratitude to VTB Capital and other organisations contributing to the success of the event, which include the Imperial War Museum, Pusser's Rum, Russian Standard Vodka, British Midland International (bmi), The Russia House, Interfax, EUROMAG and others. British airline BMI is the partner to the delegation of Russian veterans.

 

Scene of 2010 celnbrations abpoartd HMS Belfast Scene of 2010 celnbrations abpoartd HMS Belfast
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