An article in The Argus (June 8) reported on an 89-year-old former Royal Navy sailor who was still waiting to receive his Second World War Arctic Convoy medal – nearly 70 years after the end of the war.

Harry Watson had been promised it would arrive by the end of May this year, but there is still no sign of the honour arriving.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence was quoted as saying they had been expecting around 200 applications for the award but had, in fact, received more than 3,100.

Surely common sense must show there cannot possibly be more than 3,000 survivors of what Winston Churchill described as “the worst journey in the world”, all virtually in their 90s or older, still alive and qualifying for this medal.

I would have thought that, using their wartime records, the MoD would have a pretty good idea of how many men would apply and that the figure of 200 was reasonably accurate.

So, the mystery remains: just who are the 2,900 standing in the way of Harold receiving his very well-earned award?

Eric Waters, Ingleside Crescent, Lancing