18 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
Ships take the
desert by storm
A MEETING one night with
members of 16th Royal
Artillery Regiment 14th
Brigade resulted in a desert
marathon for five matelots
from the Navy’s C-RAM Stan’tastic
group (Counter Rocket
Artillery and Mortar) who
man, maintain and repair the voyages
Phalanx guns that protect
Basra.
CULDROSE-based pilot Lt Cdr
WO2 Leni Leonard first met
Stan Burgess (pictured above) has
his compatriots at RAF North
notched up 7,000 fl ying hours in
● Logs Louis and Emma Whitfi eld together at HMS Raleigh
Picture: Dave Sherfield
Luffenham while under training,
helicopters. He joined the Navy in
1976, and has fl own a variety of
Welcome
where he heard about their entry
of a five-man team in the Military
rotorcraft around the world.
Heavy category of the Bataan
His initial time in the air began
Memorial Death March.
with 819 NAS flying Sea King
He confessed: “Whilst not
Mk1s in SAR and ASW roles,
aboard, bro’
wishing to let the Army get a
where he carried out the first deck
step ahead of the RN on our first
landing on HMS Invincible during
encounter, I declared over a cold
her final stages of build in Barrow;
beer that we would also enter
● Lt Matt Ryder, WO2 ‘Leni’ Leonard, CPO ‘Daisy’ May may be between 819 and 826 NAS he
flew from Ark Royal, Hermes,
LOGS EMMA Whitfield was at current tour in HMS Ark Royal,
the Death March, and quickly
rueing the cold-beer rivalry that brought them to the Bataan Memorial
Bulwark and Blake before moving
HMS Raleigh to see her younger and explore the globe from the
volunteered five members of the
Death March
C-RAM team.
in the few weeks before the big aid posts to be treated, but we
on to 705 NAS flying Gazelles,
brother Louis follow in her Falklands Islands to the USA.
then to 810 NAS.
“It was not until later that we all
day. decided to keep going, mainly to
footsteps as a Naval logistician. She said: “Louis joining up
On an exchange appointment,
realised what we were going to be
Their pre-race preparations make sure that the Army team
Logs Louis Whitfield signed has given me the extra push to
Stan spent two years serving with
doing – namely a 26.2-mile desert
were not aided by a 1,000-mile didn’t get in front of us – but
up for life at sea some seven work towards my promotion.
Helicopter Squadron 817 of the
marathon in Texas that started in
plane journey that landed just also in remembrance of the WW2
years after his sister began “I want to set him a good
Royal Australian Navy, before
just over four weeks...”
six hours before they had to be Bataan heroes that could not stop,
her Naval career, and has just example.
returning to the UK and 706
A week after taking up the
at race control for the official as if they did they were shot.”
finished his apprenticeship at “I love the fact that I’ve got a
NAS, 826 C Flight; then converted
challenge, the men – WO Leni
preparations for the race. The last miles proved
the Defence Maritime Logistics family member in the Fleet and
to the Wessex MkIV, he joined
Leonard, Lt Matt Ryder, CPO
Leni said: “Needless to say particularly tough, as described
School. I’m pleased that he has chosen
No.32 The Royal Squadron and
Daisy May, LET Tugg Wilson
we were all tired, hungry and by CPO Daisy May: “Up to the
His departure from his to follow in my footsteps.
for three years was personal pilot
and LET Digger Hill – flew to
unprepared for what lay ahead. 20-mile point we were distracted
to the Prince of Wales.
apprenticeship overlapped with “I’ve had a great time so far. the US to continue their C-RAM
“The Army, who had arrived from the discomfort by some truly
Stan returned to 705 NAS,
his sister’s arrival in preparation I’ve seen a lot of the world and training.
from the UK in plenty of time, spectacular views stretching as far
flying Squirrels, as CO; then
for promotion. met some brilliant people.” Good intentions for marathon
picked us all up at the airport and as the eye could see.
moved back to RNAS Culdrose
Emma’s seven-year career An example that Louis wishes training were lost amid the artillery
got us back to barracks where we “The hardest part was the
to 771 NAS, then despite having
has so far seen her serve in to follow during his career with training, although the team did
managed to get some sleep before following 6.2 miles. Beginning
a period with a nominal non-
four RN ships, including her the Senior Service. manage a couple of five-mile runs
we were woken at three to head with a trudge through an area
off.” known as the sandpit. This
flying role as OiC of the Sea
The race began at 7am, but the consists of approximately 1,000
King Simulator, he stayed current
racers arrived at 4am to attend the yards through ankle-deep soft
as an instructor with 771 NAS.
ceremonies of remembrance for sand, followed by a stretch of
Now back with 771 NAS in his
those that lost their lives during track that just doesn’t seem to end
final Service assignment, he had
the original Bataan March in and a final three miles where the
clocked up the impressive total of
World War 2. reserves of energy are drained.”
7,000 flying hours.
After the first six miles, the However the sight of another
Naval five split into two groups, runner kept the men motivated to
when Tugg and Digger could not continue.
keep up with the ‘ten-minute run, Leni said: “Even here there are
ten-minute walk’ pace. heroes as a one-legged amputee on in br
news
ief

The desert-bound submariner crutches made his way through.
■ TOP COOKIN’: POLogs(CS)
added: “So with the ensign He like many other amputees
Andy Bailey from submarine
from the now-decommissioned attend this march and complete
HMS Tireless has been named
submarine HMS Superb flying the full 26.2 miles themselves, so
the top chef in the Armed
high from my camelback, we how could we feel tired and worn
Forces.
carried on into the dusty trails. out – we had to, and were going
His win was announced at the
“At mile eight, the Army boys to, finish.
Armed Service catering event,
we are working with were lining “As we crossed the finish line
the Cost Sector Awards.
the road in front of us cheering we were cheered on by both the
us on and handing out drinks of RN C-RAM and the Army boys
Andy credited his success
Gatorade and orange slices, which who weren’t competing.
to his team and added that if
helped us to push on for the five- “We shook the hands of the last
the crew didn’t like the food,
mile climb up ahead before we few Bataan heroes who sat quietly
he’d get 130 critics lambasting
went around the base of what felt in tears and called us the new
him. Apparently the boat crew
like a mountain.” heroes...”
appreciated good home cooking
Blisters started to appear on the Oh, and a final note, honour is
while away at sea, particularly
men’s feet, but Leni said: “You intact – yes, the Navy did beat the
cherishing steak and kidney
could stop at the numerous first Army team.
pudding and the old favourite
cheesy-hammy-eggy.
Scarce glory
■ MORE chefery from HMS
Caledonia who won awards at the
Scottish Defence Salon Culinaire.
Caledonia’s Wardroom head
CHANGES in the age limit for
chef John Gow and Senior Rates
Senior Upper Yardmen is bringing
supervising steward Vincent
to light new recognition for
Greech carried off (respectively)
offi cers who have served through
third prize in the Senior Chef of
the ranks.
the Year competition and first
Lt Cdr Steve Henaghen
place in the afternoon teacakes
(pictured right), currently serving
and pastries category.
on exchange to the Royal
Netherlands Navy in Den Helder
■ ROYAL Marine bandsman
as an anti-air warfare specialist,
Msn Alice Quayle has won the
is believed to be one of only two
2009 Cassel Prize for her solo
serving officers to be presented
performance.
with a clasp to the Long Service
The bassoon player with
and Good Conduct medal.
the RM School of Music in
From his initial entry at HMS
Portsmouth competed against
Raleigh in September 1977,
40 other trainees at the School
through his 32 years service Steve
service as a rating followed by the to scoop the top prize.
can claim to have held every rank
additional qualifying time of eight
and rate between junior seaman
years as an officer. ■ NAVIGATOR Lt Marc
and lieutenant commander
Steve obviously enjoyed the Taylor of HMS Ramsey has been
(although he missed collecting
celebration of his Naval career at presented with the Carl Zeiss
midshipman during his path). the British ambassador’s residence Award from HMS Collingwood.
Promoted to Warrant Officer in at The Hague, and admits: “To
1999, he was one of the first to be fair, I don’t normally do much ■ ANOTHER award to Lt Cdr
take advantage of the rising age fuss. I would have rung up the John Scivier who has been
limit for Senior Upper Yardmen. Chief Writer and asked him to just recognised by the Institute of
This means that he and one give it to me if I’d been given the Leadership and Management
other compatriot from that Senior option in advance. with an Award for Excellence for
Upper Yardmen course are “But I really enjoyed the day. his transition from CO of HMS
thought to be the only serving Everyone really put themselves Victory to an operational role as
officers to meet the stringent out for me. It was quite Senior Air Traffic Controller of
qualifying criteria of 22 years phenomenal.” Plymouth Military Radar.
018_NN_jun09.indd 1 21/5/09 13:46:03
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52