NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2010


31


High honour for Robert


A SENIOR rate has been awarded a Winston Churchill Medallion for his leadership of an expedition to the Himalayas.


PONN Robert Wakeford, from


MDHU Derriford in Plymouth, was presented with his prize by the Duchess of Cornwall at a ceremony in the Guildhall, London. PO Wakeford (right) was expedition leader for a 32-strong tri-Service group of doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, nurses and medics who trekked and climbed in Nepal last year. Exercise Imja Tse was regarded as


● B/Cpl Adrian Imm with wife Deborah, a trainee RN Dental Nurse


Parade is family affair


PROUD husband Adrian Imm was there to see his wife Deborah complete her basic training at HMS Raleigh. But he wasn’t watching from the sidelines – Adrian was part of the ceremony itself. The band corporal managed to gain a place in the Royal Marines Band Lympstone, rather than watch from the stands as Deborah, herself a former bandie, took part in the passing-out parade. The couple met at Woodroff School in Lyme Regis, and both joined


Adrian in 1999 and Deborah – whose father was in the Royal Navy – a year later.


“I felt it was the perfect time to rejoin the lifestyle I have missed.” She decided to take up a new


Deborah left in 2005 when she became pregnant with their first child, but now, with their three daughters in education, she


Picture: Dave Sherfield


a journey of personal development and growth which boosted individuals and helped engender teamwork to the overall benefit of the Armed Forces. The expedition was designed to


work on two levels. The


first level focused on the


development of novice trekkers, providing an opportunity to experience high-altitude conditions.


The second focused on the further


development of the experienced trekkers and climbers in the team, who went on to climb Imja Tse. Extensive training throughout the UK and the French and Swiss Alps set the group up for the trek up the main approach to Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar (5,545m). The 21 experienced members of the team then summited Imja Tse (Island Peak) at 6,189m.


High-altitude medical research


was a fundamental component of the exercise, with the results being submitted for publication. The overall success has prompted the planning of a future Defence Medical Services expedition in the Bolivian Andes in 2012. For more information on this and


the future planned expedition, as well as the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, contact Robert Wakeford at rob.wakeford35@googlemail.com


THE current HMS Ark Royal took time out of her recent busy deployment to the United States to pay tribute to one of


her predecessors. The third Ark Royal played a


the RM Band Service,


crucial role in the engagement with German battleship Bismarck, and the Exercise Auriga flagship held a celebratory dinner and picture


Ark V salutes Ark III


unveiling to mark the occasion. In May 1941 Bismarck, in


company with Prinz Eugen, broke out into the North Atlantic to threaten the fragile lifeline of convoys ploughing between Europe and North America. HMS Hood and HMS Prince


of Wales were sent to intercept the German warships, but Hood was


sunk with the loss of more than 1,400 men as the enemy escaped. Force H – a flotilla including


Ark Royal, battle cruiser HMS Renown and heavy cruiser HMS Sheffield – was despatched from Gibraltar to prevent Bismarck, leaking fuel oil, making the safety of St Nazaire.


After a major mishap – said:


career, one that fitted family commitments a little better, so she is now undertaking 14 weeks of specialist training at the Defence Dental Services Training Centre at Aldershot. Adrian, who is normally a member of the Portsmouth band, is currently at Lympstone to prepare for promotion.


Moon man in


Pontefract ASTRONAUT and former US Navy pilot Capt Edgar Mitchell was presented with Royal Navy tie pins by an ex-RN man.


Capt Mitchell recently visited Pontefract to talk


ill-fated Apollo 13 flight when the crews of 13 and 14 were swapped. Paul Dobson, who escorted the


and the general public about his mission on Apollo 14, which saw him become the sixth man to walk on the moon. He narrowly missed flying on the


to schools 


● The RN Theatre Association production of The Wyrd Systers


Curtain falls on Wyrd Sisters


Swordfish accidentally struck at HMS Sheffield but the torpedoes failed to detonate – an attack was launched on Bismarck on May 26. The Swordfish took off in


terrible weather, with the flight deck pitching more than 60ft, and 19-year-old pilot Lt Jock Moffat loosed off a tin fish which crippled Bismarck’s steering gear. With the big ship now incapable of more than a long, slow turn, other Royal Navy vessels were able to finish it off.


At a dinner on the current Ark


during Exercise Capella Strike, Commander Air Cdr Rocky Salmon recounted the story, after which Cdre Simon Ancona, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, unveiled a painting of Ark Royal III launching a Swordfish to attack Bismarck.


And a video of the vivid recollections of 91-year-old Lt Cdr Moffat (rtd) was played to guests, who included Col Russell Sanborn, the CO of Marine Aircraft Group 14 of the US Marine Corps. Bismarck book review – p44


THE latest Royal Navy Theatre Association production, The Wyrd Sisters, attracted crowds of more than 1,000 people to the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth. During its five-night run, a range of military and civilian personnel performed in Stephen Briggs’ adaptation of the classic Terry Pratchett tale. The RNTA fund


a major


production such as this every two years, involving members from all affiliated RN theatre groups from across the country. Association chairman Cdr


David Grindel said: “We have been delighted with the success of the Pratchett series. “It has allowed us to build up a strong following which we hope will transfer to our new venture. “Our hope is to stage an open- air performance of one of


the


more humorous Shakespearian plays in the summer of 2012. “We are all looking forward to the challenge.” And there is every chance that


Pratchett may return in future years.


The association is always looking


out for new members – contact Cdr Grindel on 02392 325324 or david.grindel1578@mod.uk


1805 Club keep RN history alive


● Up-and-coming politician: Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey in HMS Cumberland Minister drops in for war


ARMED Forces Minister Nick Harvey went to war with the Royal Navy – but just for the day. The North Devon MP joined a


Korean War veteran in Yorkshire, took the chance to chat about their respective Navy careers – Paul served from 1979-86, including time in HM ships Intrepid and Fearless. Paul said he found Capt Mitchell


interesting man, funny and every bit a gentleman.”


to be “an extremely


Thursday War as a guest of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) Rear Admiral Chris Snow to see the Royal Navy exercising under pressure.


Mr Harvey, a fact-finding mission,


undertaking spent


some time with Type 22 frigate HMS Cumberland as she was put through her paces by the


Devonport-based FOST team. The politician found himself in the midst of the challenging weekly exercise which prepares ships and submarines


for operational


deployments such as counter- piracy patrols and humanitarian tasking – and ultimately for war. The frigate was subject to constant challenges at the whim of the FOST staff as they kept the sailors on their toes, with dramatic events including mock attacks from missiles, aircraft and submarines.


He saw the crew fight floods and fires in stressful simulated scenarios, and also eat on the move as chefs prepared meals under fire and in the midst of disaster. The minister followed his time


at sea with a tour of Devonport Naval Base, including HM ships Vigilant and Bulwark, both in refit, and Hasler Company, for Royal Marines needing extra medical and welfare attention. He also visited HMS Raleigh, attending a passing-out parade.


TWO Naval tombs and a plaque have been restored thanks to the efforts of the 1805 Club, the only charitable organisation dedicated to conserving monuments and memorials to Nelson and other Georgian seafarers. The tombs, in Kensal Green


cemetery in North London, were those of


Admirals Sir Thomas


Capel and Sir Robert Otway. Capel was the Commanding Officer of frigate HMS Phoebe at Trafalgar, and he previously served under Nelson on board HMS Vanguard at the Battle of the Nile. Otway was captain of HMS London at the Battle


of


Copenhagen in 1801. The


plaque was originally dedicated to Admiral Lord James


de Saumarez, and was unveiled in 1975 at Gothenburg Town Hall by King Gustav XVI of Sweden in the presence of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma and Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach.


The bronze plaque was subsequently stolen, but through the efforts of the 1805 Club a bronzed resin replacement – to discourage theft – was unveiled during the visit of HMS Kent to the Swedish port in the summer. Saumarez’s Baltic Fleet had


kept the sea lanes open to ensure naval supplies could reach the UK, and a pseudo-war with Sweden deceived Napoleon sufficiently to allow the state to survive – a tactic acknowledged by the Swedes.


Charitable bikers and safer bikers


BIKERS were high on the agenda at naval establishments at either end of England. HMS Calliope welcomed 75


bikers from the Geordie Chapter of the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Club at the end of a ride in aid of Help for Heroes. The motorcyclists had visited Albemarle Barracks, home to 39 Rgt Royal Artillery, and RAF Boulmer


near Alnwick before ● The Harley Davidson Geordies at HMS Calliope


ending at the Gateshead RNR unit, where they were welcomed by Lt Nelson McMillan, CO of HMS Example, the Northumbria University URNU patrol boat. Down in Devon, 11 military and civilian staff from Britannia


Royal Naval College completed a day of training under the Bike Safe scheme, sponsored by the police. The day was organised by keen biker MAA Rob Grenfell of BRNC RN Police, who said: “The Bike Safe initiative is a brilliant way to promote a higher level of competency among all bike users, along with greater safety awareness.” Training was led Sgt Gregg


Jarrett of the Devon and Cornwall Police, and included a morning of classroom instruction and four hours on the roads of the South Hams with police motorcyclists, practising skills and having riding competencies assessed.


● Bike Safe day at Dartmouth Picture: Brent Burton (VT Flagship BRNC)


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