THE family of war veteran Cyril Bartlett fear time is running out for him to receive the Ushakov medal after the Russian Embassy mislaid his application forms.

The 94-year-old, who founded the Swindon Sea Cadets, was presented with an Arctic Star medal in April after facing freezing temperatures as part of his role in the Second World War.

The honour entitles him to the Medal of Ushakov, a Russian award in recognition of the efforts made by British sailors to deliver supplies to Soviet forces in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

But Cyril, who was hoping to receive his medal at a special remembrance ceremony at the Wyvern Theatre on November 3, might never get to celebrate the honour after his application forms failed to reach the appropriate people at the Russian Embassy in London.

Cyril’s son David, who lives in Old Walcot and is his father’s full-time carer, said: “Father is looking forward to going along to the ceremony with Richard Jagger, who is his oldest friend and who also received an Arctic Star with him.

“But unfortunately, we have learnt that the Russian Embassy have not received or lost his application forms, so he will not be receiving it until at least the New Year.

“But he’s an old man and he’s very sick.

“He was overwhelmed and delighted to find out he would receive it. It’s a great honour.

“Veterans have of course received medals from the USA and other countries but I don’t think he ever expected to get a medal from Russia, a country that was the greatest foe in the Cold War.

“I do know they are working hard to try and get the medal to him for the ceremony in November but it is disappointing. I think it’s just bureaucracy getting in the way.”

Cyril spent some time aboard the HMS Vervain during the Second World War, which travelled deep into the Arctic Circle when he was barely out of his teens.

David said: “Although father joined the navy, to this day he has never been able to swim.

“When they used to play water polo when they were out at sea he used to have to wear a lifejacket. But if they had fallen into the sea then they would only have survived for five minutes before they froze to death.

“When they were near the Russian coast they had to chip off the ice from the super structure every hour, otherwise the ship would have ‘turned turtle’.”

Cyril was presented with the Arctic Star medal at a special ceremony at the 4th TS Resolution Swindon unit of the Sea Cadets building in Upham Road by Rear Admiral Nick Wilkinson.

Even before Cyril joined the war in 1940 he had already established the first Swindon unit of the sea cadets in the town centre.

The Russian Embassy had not responded to a request for a comment when the Adver went to press.