A ROYAL Navy veteran hailed for his bravery on the treacherous Arctic convoys during the Second World War is set to be appear in a new documentary for the BBC.

Austin Byrne, now 93, features in two episodes of the four-part 'Britain's Greatest Generation' series, which is showing on BBC2.

Mr Byrne, of Thornton, Bradford, tells the story of how he survived and cared for wounded colleagues for four days in a lifeboat after his ship - the Induna - was torpedoed by a German U-boat on March 30, 1942.

He said it was a "pleasure" to have been interviewed for the series, which is the centrepiece of a major BBC2 Second World War season running across the summer to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

Born in Rufford Street, Bradford, in 1922, Mr Byrne worked at Drummonds Mill on Lumb Lane before joining the Royal Navy and serving as a gunner on merchant ships.

He was posted on the Arctic convoys to Russia, described by some war commentators as the most demanding and dangerous of voyages made during the conflict.

"I joined the ship in Glasgow, and we sailed to Iceland, and then into the Barents Sea in the Arctic," he said.

"We got caught up in the storm of all storms, and got split up from the other ships and stuck in the Northern ice caps.

"We were torpedoed first thing on the morning of March 30, and spent the next four days in a lifeboat.

"All you did was bail out water and pray, and try your best to keep warm.

"You didn't dare go to sleep in case you froze to death.

"We were eventually picked up by the Russians, and taken to Murmansk.

"There were around 60 men on the ship when she got hit, and less than 20 got to land. 16 of those had to have limbs amputated, and only two went back to sea, and I was one of the two."

Mr Byrne received a long-awaited service medal last year for his work on the convoys and to commemorate VE Day last week, had the Red Ensign flag flying in his back garden at Southlands Grove as he often does to remember poignant military anniversaries.

"When I have the flag raised, I go out and salute it every morning and night," he said.

"I say prayers for the boys who lost their lives, as you never forget them.

"People tell you to forget, but you can't, and I don't want to.

"I still think of my friends every day."

Pete Vance, assistant producer for Testimony Films, makers of the new series, said: "Austin's is a very dramatic story, and he articulates his memories brilliantly, painting such a vivid picture of all he endured.

"He is a true working class hero, and really embodies the characteristics that make his generation great.

"We are incredibly lucky to have found him, and honoured that he shared his life story so openly with us."

The first episode of 'Britain's Greatest Generation' featuring Mr Byrne is set to air at 9pm on BBC2 this Friday.