NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2009 17
Faslane medic trains Afghan nursing team
A NAVAL medical assistant based at Faslane Gah to operate its own ambulance service. “And then, the next day, I could be on
used her specialist knowledge to train a group She volunteered to teach a trauma standby as part of the quick reaction force
of Afghan nurses. management course over a two-month period and so be ready to react to any type of medical
Natalie Chinniah deployed to Helmand in to 12 nurses, and all graduated successfully at emergency.
September last year with the Joint Forces the end of March. “I could then be on guard duty or be the
Medical Group. Natalie was awarded a Certificate of duty medic for the next 24 hours. The work is
Coalition forces are attempting to stabilise Recognition by Col Greville Bibby, Deputy definitely varied.”
the nation, and a crucial component is the Commander Task Force Helmand. She saw her fair share of action on this, her
development of the Afghan health service. But the medic was not there just to teach. second tour of duty to the country, having
Natalie was involved in a project that will “I was regularly attached to a foot or vehicle been shot at and been on the receiving end of
enable Helmand’s provincial hospital in Lashkar patrol,” said Natalie. rocket attacks.
● Dave Thirkle
From boy sailor to
Face it –
1,000 hours
Nelson is
not flying for
second-in-command
a hero
pilot Dave
A STUDY initiated by Wood’s 100
Old Navy Rum confirms what the
Senior Service has always known –
TO pass 1,000 hours in the pilot’s
Lord Nelson is a hero.
seat is normally an achievement
AN OFFICER from Torpoint the Commander HMS Raleigh, Cdr Harris served in a number of
and an exchange with the US
An analysis of Nelson (pictured
worth celebrating. has gone back to his roots
making him the second-in- ships as he scaled the promotion Navy in Pennsylvania.
above), part of a celebration of
To pass 1,000 hours in the
by taking up a home-town
command at the RN’s new entry ladder, reaching the rank of chief In 2005 he became career
more than 150 years of the rum,
pilot’s seat without ever getting
appointment at the place
training establishment. petty officer in 1990. manager for more than 260
reveals that the square forehead,
airborne sounds more like an
Cdr Harris first entered the He was selected for officer logistics officers, and was Staff
where his Service career began
set-back ears and Roman nose
achievement to forget.
gates of Raleigh as a 16-year-old training at Dartmouth in 1991, Logistics Officer with Flag Officer
32 years before.
all point to traits which mark out
But in Dave Thirkle’s case it
boy sailor in August 1977. and subsequently saw service at Sea Training (FOST) at Devonport
a hero.
was definitely celebrations – Dave
Cdr Mick Harris has taken Following his basic and specialist sea and ashore, including HM before joining HMS Raleigh.
The Roman nose indicates
is an aircraft taxi pilot at the RN over from Cdr Mike Flynn as training to qualify as a caterer, ships Invincible and Sutherland
Among the first duties of the
a good manager and delegator,
School of Flight Deck Operations
new Commander HMS Raleigh
a square forehead shows an
at RNAS Culdrose.
will be to take part in the Freedom
individual who initiates ideas for
To mark Dave’s 1,000th ‘flying’
of Torpoint parade through the
others to carry through, the ears
hour CO Capt Graeme Mackay
streets of the town, due to be
suggest a visionary and a head
presented him with an Award for
staged as Navy News went to
wider at the back than the front
Special Achievement at an informal
press.
denotes a competitive individual.
ceremony at the Dummy Deck.
Cdr Harris said: “My memories
The study, of 1,000 people
Dave trundles Harriers around
of Torpoint from when I first
across the UK this summer, also
the deck, training flight deck crews joined the Service are few as my
revealed that the Royal Navy and
prior to them deploying to sea. time was filled with the whirl of
Army are considered the most
The Harriers do not actually activity that is new entry training.
heroic people in society (41 per
get airborne, but in every other “However, on my return to
cent) followed by doctors and
sense they are the real thing – hot Raleigh as a leading hand in 1980 I
paramedics (25 per cent) and
and noisy, creating a serious jet settled in the community and have
police and fire services (23 per
blast for trainees to contend with. been a Torpoint resident pretty
cent).
As well as being a mechanical much ever since, allowing for
engineering supervisor, Dave is various drafts and appointments
the school’s most experienced away from Devonport.
Women’s work
ground instructional aircraft taxi “I am incredibly honoured to A PARTY of 16 Year 10 students
pilot – 22 years with the RN. be returning to Raleigh some 29 have visited HMS Ark Royal as
He started his zero-altitude years later as the Commander and part of the NavyWISE residential
career taxiing Hawker Hunters. am looking forward enormously work experience week with the
846 pilot wins
to the many challenges and Royal Navy organised by Women
opportunities this will present – for Into Science, Engineering and
example, the Freedom of Torpoint Construction (WISE).
Chapman prize
parade in my home town.” The group was hosted by
Cdr Flynn has now taken up CPOET(ME) Julia Warren,
an appointment as Executive LET(AE) Keele and LET(WE)
Assistant to FOST. Adele Flounders.
A PILOT with the Commando
Helicopter Force (CHF) has been
given the coveted Darren Chapman ● We’re in charge: from left, Lt Cdr ‘Oscar’ Whild (current CO of HMS Victory), Lt Cdr John Scivier, Lt Cdr
award at RNAS Yeovilton. Frank Nowosielski, Lt Cdr Mike Cheshire, Lt Cdr Charles Addis and Lt Cdr Bill Pearce
The award was handed to Lt
James Coleman, of 846 NAS, by
Elizabeth Chapman, widow of
Darren. Six COs on one ship
CHRISTMAS
Lt Cdr Chapman was the CO
of 847 NAS who was killed in
FIVE former commanding officers Massey, in Nelson’s Cabin for all Lt Cdr Bill Pearce (July 1968-
CARD APPEAL
action over Iraq. of HMS Victory joined the current
the surviving COs of the ship. June 1970).
The award is presented annually incumbent to help celebrate the As far as can be established,
Lt Cdr Whild said: “It is an
by the CO of the CHF to the front- 250th anniversary of the laying of there are only eight previous honour to be a member of such
Every year the Shipwrecked Mariners’
line pilot who has demonstrated their old ship’s keel. captains of Victory still alive. an exclusive club, and this reunion
Society pays over £1m in grants to
the highest personal, professional Although the keel-laying, on Of those eight, three were unable is one of the highlights of a very
the dependants of those lost at sea,
and leadership qualities. Monday July 23 1759, took place to attend, but those who were able successful week of events to mark
Lt Coleman completed “two at Chatham, where Nelson’s to join the current CO, Lt Cdr our 250th anniversary.”
as well as sick, disabled and retired
exemplary tours” to Afghanistan, flagship at Trafalgar was built, a ‘Oscar’ Whild, were Lt Cdr John Visitors to the Historic
seafarers struggling to make ends meet.
and earlier this year achieved his series of special events was staged Scivier (March 2006-September Dockyard were invited to descend
Arctic wings in Norway, capping at Portsmouth, where she has sat 2008), Lt Cdr Frank Nowosielski into the dry dock beneath the hull
Please help us to continue this
it by carrying out a rescue mission in dry dock since 1922. (May 1998-March 2006), Lt Cdr to view the keel at close quarters.
important work.
in appalling weather to save the One of the private events was a Mike Cheshire (September 1993- There were also special talks
life of a passenger in a crashed reunion dinner, hosted by Second May 1998), Lt Cdr Charles Addis by the Keeper and Curator of
civilian helicopter. Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan (January 1982-January 1986) and Victory, Peter Goodwin.
• Quality Christmas Cards
Home straight
• Correspondence Cards
• Heroism at Sea E-Book
for capital trio
• Nautical Heritage Calendar
THREE London veterans
• Birthday Cards
have been serving out their
• Gift Items
final assignments together in
Whitehall.
CPOWEM(R) ‘Razor’ Blades,
To receive a copy of our new 2009 brochure
MAA ‘Mitch’ Mitchell and
and order form please contact:
CPOWEM(R) ‘Topsy’ Turner
have between them put in more
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Dept NN,
than 70 years service.
The trio are now winding down
1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TL
● FOST staff battle a capsizing RIB at the RNLI training centre in Poole
their careers at ISS St Vincent, the
Tel: 01243 789329 Fax: 01243 530853
RN on a roll with the RNLI
DE&S ISS (Defence Equipment
and Support Information Systems
e-mail: general@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk
and Services) Communications www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk
Centre adjacent to Old Admiralty
STAFF from Flag Officer Sea Training’s Portsmouth Cdre Christie, responsible for training and Building.
HQ in Leach Building have visited the RNLI’s education across the RN, said: “The RNLI have In an informal ceremony
training centre in Poole. developed an impressive training organisation which staged on the St Vincent balcony Reg Charity
The team, headed up by Cdre Campbell Christie, has the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of overlooking St James’ Park, Capt
No 212034
Shipwrecked
Inst. 1839
experienced the practical nature of RNLI training, their volunteers. Dain Morritt presented each
Mariners’Society
which involved them capsizing a RIB and carrying “I’m always pleased to be able to have the senior rate with a Second Sea
out liferaft drills. opportunity to share good practice, and this visit had Lord’s Valedictory Certificate in
Supporting the seafaring community for 170 years
The RNLI is able to simulate rough seas, noise, the added advantage of being a great team-building appreciation of their long and
darkness and even a helicopter lift. activity.” faithful service.
016-017_nn_oct.indd 2 15/9/09 11:18:27
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