IN THE week of the 60th anniversary of one of the Second World War's most crucial, yet dangerous missions, York-based veterans have been speaking of their memories.

On August 21, 1941, the first Britain to Russia naval convoy set sail.

The convoys were carrying arms, munitions and other equipment vital for the Russian Red Army, in their battle against the Nazis.

The ten-day journey made the Merchant Navy ships prime targets for U-boats, meaning a large battleship escort was needed.

Bill Sunderland, of Acomb, joined the navy, as a 17-year-old, in 1943, and sailed on his first convoy in 1944. He said the main thing he remembers is the extreme cold.

"The cold was so bad that when the spray came over the front of the ship it had already turned to ice before it hit the deck.

"You had to chip it off as quickly as you could otherwise the ship became top-heavy."

Bill, who was a signalman, described the experience of being stalked by a U-boat as "very frightening."

He said: "I was very lucky. I was never on a ship that took a hit.

"We gave a few out though, but you never hung around to see what happened.

"It's not like in the films. If you hit a U-boat you got out of there quick," said Bill, 75.

Alf Frost, who lives in Stamford Bridge, joined the navy in 1943, and sailed in his first convoy the following year.

He worked as a First Class Stoker in the boiler room, switching to loading ammunition magazines when on action stations.

He also remembers the extreme cold. "It was dark as well," said 77-year-old Alf.

"But the cold was terrible. It was that bad that there would even be icicles hanging off the fans in the boiler room."

One mission that sticks in Alf's mind was when he was sent to the Norwegian coast to try to tempt out a pack of German battleships.

He said: "That was frightening. But I came through it, and overall my time in the Navy was enjoyable.

"I always say that I hadn't lived before I joined, and I've never lived since."

Updated: 11:23 Monday, August 27, 2001