Name Stanley McKessock | Died 2012 | |
The Russian Convoys
Stanley McKessock (1924-2012) served on the North Atlantic Fleet (The Russian Convoys) during World War II.
Contents
Stanley McKessock Polar Star, RN, (born 15 August 1924, Aberdeenshire) was a Royal Navy gunner who served in World War II. He was called up at the age of 18 and after 6 weeks initial training, joined the Royal Navy where he served on the North Atlantic Fleet (The Russian Convoys) from 1942-45.
During the war he met Ellen Whitelaw at the Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow, Scotland (a famous dance hall) and they married in December 1946. Stanley settled down and became a tram and bus driver in Glasgow and was 'the safest driver' for seven years running.
PQ17
In June 1942, Stanley was a gunner on a Naval ship assigned to protect Merchant Navy convoys sailing from Loch Ewe in Scotland to Murmansk in Russia. The Arctic convoys were nicknamed The Suicide Missions. There were German U-Boats, aircraft and surface ships.