Today, September 1, the Spasskaya Tower Festival has had the honor to receive as the special guests two veterans of the World War II, participants of the Artic Convoys. Representing Russia there was Mr. Valentin Soldatov, participant of the Battle for the Artic as a crew member of the torpedo boat, and representing the United Kingdom there was Mr. Ernest Davis, Chairman of the London Council of the Arctic Convoys Veterans in Russia.
Mr. Soldatov and Mr. Davis haven’t met before. However their common combat past encouraged the meeting between them. They recollected the times when they had taken part in the Artic Convoys as well as the city of Murmansk where the ships of the Allies of the World War II arrived. The veterans noticed that the mutual support and help that existed among the sailors of the two countries made significant contribution in the cause of winning over the same enemy. Besides they lamented the present state of relations between Russia and the United Kingdom.
“I am not into politics, it’s a dirty thing, but I love Russia and Russian people. I have been in Russia for seven times and will come here again and again till I can. This is my second home”, told Mr. Davis.
The veterans watched the ninth evening show of the Spasskaya Tower Festival and shared their opinions.
Mr. Ernest Davis appreciated the performance of his compatriots, the Brentwood Imperial Youth Band which was formed in 1990 by the Member of the Order of the British Empire Mr. John Wyndham. The band counts more than 70 musicians and the youngest of them is just 11 years old. The youth band is one of the most successful marching bands in the United Kingdom and enjoys great popularity.
The Brentwood Imperial Youth Band performs in red uniform typical of Guard units. They to the sounds of a British march step onto Red Square keeping tight columns. Then they stop for a moment and paly a very beautiful minor melody followed by a realignment after which the band moves on keeping wide front. Drummers step onto the forefront and perform the composition in the name of the victims of the Passchendaele Battle. On leaving the cobblestone young musicians perform the Cavalry of the Steepes, a very touching Russian melody composed by Lev Knipper.
Within this year’s Spasskaya Tower Festival the Brentwood Imperial Youth Band has also performed in Gorkiy Park, Tsarytsino Museum Preserve and onstage of the Children Playground of the Spasskaya Tower for Kids program.
Among other guests of honor of this evening’s show there were Irina Alexandrovna Viner-Usmanova, Hero of the Sports, Honored Worker of the Physical Culture and Honor Coach of the Russian Federation; Colonel General Arkadiy Gostev, Deputy of the Russian Interior Minister; Colonel Okrshkar Tomas, Defense Attaché of the Slovenia Republic to the Russian Federation; Mr. Pasquale Terracciano, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Russian Federation; Brigadier General Alfonso Miro, Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Italian Republic to the Russian Federation; Mr. Andrea Cereser, Mayor of San Dona di Piave and Colonel Andrey Filyakin, Commander of the Presidential Regiment of the Federal Guard Service of the Russian Federation.
For information
Mr. Ernest Davis volunteered for the front and in 1943 was listed in the ranks of the British Royal Navy. He served at the Cotton frigate. As a crew member he participated in the last two Arctic Convoys in 1945 delivering weapons, munitions, military equipment and food to north ports of the USSR.
He’s been decorated with a plethora of state orders featuring the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlantic Star, the French and German Star, the Arctic Star as well as the Admiral Ushakov Medal (Russia). At the end of the war Mr. Davis left the military service and became the driving instructor.
In 1944 Mr. Valentin Soldatovgraduated from the Solovki Sea Cadets School as a boatswain of a torpedo boat and was sent to serve in the ranks of the Northern Fleet. Mr. Soldatov served onboard of a torpedo ship that provided safe passage for the allies’ ships of the Arctic Convoys. In 1952 he retired from the Navy. Since 1957 Mr. Soldatov has become an activist of the Solovki Sea Cadets Veteran Organization. He meets with the youngsters and shares his naval experience with them as well as the Navy traditions.Since 1996 he is the Deputy Chairman of the Sea Cadet Council. Mr. Valentin Soldatov has been decorated with a plethora of awards including theSecond Grade Order of the Patriotic War and Red Star Order as well as the Admiral Ushakov medals. All in all forty convoys of the allies, numbering 811 ships, arrived in the norther ports of the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1945 delivering forty percent of their cargo.
