MORE than 2,000 people honoured the county's war dead at a poignant Remembrance Day ceremony in Chelmsford on Sunday.
More than 40 wreaths, the first laid by the city's mayor, were placed around the Duke Street war memorial, from representatives of the Royal British Legion, youth groups and the emergency services.
The crowds were joined by two survivors of the Second World War, including 92-year-old James Underwood – who served as a gunnery officer in the Royal Navy.
He took part in the infamous "Murmansk Run" – a 1,600 mile-dash through Arctic waters to supply Britain's Russian allies, bringing the Red Army vital weapons and food.
But the voyage to northern Russia was never routine and the crews faced a constant threat of Arctic ice, venomous storms and attack from German torpedoes or aircraft stationed on the Norwegian mainland.
"It's a bit chilly here today but nothing would ever compare with what it was like in those Arctic waters," said Mr Underwood, whose colleagues have been eulogised by the Soviet Union and Russia for decades.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1935 by lying about his age – he was in fact just 15 when he enlisted – and served on HMS Firedrake and HMS Westcott.
He was injured when his ship was hit by German mortar shells, cracking his skull on the deck, which left him with permanent hearing damage.
"You'll never know what it's like to see your comrades going overboard and knowing they will only have two minutes to live," said Mr Underwood.
Mr Underwood, who was born in Stratford, now lives in a Broomfield care home and attended the weekend ceremony with his daughter Jill.
He is a member of the 'V & W' Destroyer Association, The Not Forgotten Association and has been to Buckingham Palace four times in recognition of his service.
Amazingly, he is also a member of the Russian Convoy Club – and says he still hates fish after his experiences in the Article Circle.
"Once, the convoy to Russia ran out of food so we dropped a depth charge into the sea, which threw up hundreds of fish onto the ice for us to collect them in buckets.
"I haven't been able to stand fish in any form since then," said Mr Underwood.
After the war, he became a docklands police officer and served 26 years before retiring. He lived in Maldon with Grace, his late wife of 55 years.
There are fewer than 200 convoy veterans still alive and their white berets represent the Arctic ice flows.
On Sunday, the formal proceedings were started on the steps of City Hall by Canon Ivor Moody, vice dean of Chelmsford Cathedral.
After Binyon's For the Fallen was read, the Last Post was played and City Mayor, Cllr Christopher Kingsley, recited the Beatitudes, followed by a prayer by his chaplain, the Rev Carol Ball.
