18 NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2007
And they call
in brief
news
■ AFTER 61 years since leaving
the Royal Navy, World War 2 vet-
eran Tom Neill returned to sea
on board the Navy’s patrol craft
it puppy love
HMS Smiter in the Gareloch.
Now aged 86, the retired lieu-
tenant commanded a Motor
Torpedo Boat, and won the
Distinguished Service Cross in
1942 for his actions against a
German Möwe-class torpedo
THEY might look tough, but
boat.
Tom spent the day with the
even the Royal Marines can
Glasgow and Strathclyde uni-
be melted by a pair of big versities’ URNU boat, which
brown eyes... brought back many memories.
The green berets of 42 He said: “Although things
Commando on patrol in today are very different, there
Afghanistan took into their care is no greater feeling than being
the stray dogs of Nowzad in at the helm of your own ship.
Helmand Province. I’d like to thank the Royal Navy
Led by Sgt Paul ‘Penny’ and the crew of HMS Smiter for
Farthing, a few like-minded dog- the opportunity to come to sea
owning commandos took to car- once again.”
ing for the waifs and strays of the
■ LIFEGUARD 994 paid a call
canine world.
on aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious
When it was time for the Royal
during the early summer’s Noble
Marines to pull out of the region,
Mariner NATO exercise.
it was decided that leaving the
Lifeguard 994 is in fact a
dogs was not an option.
S76 helicopter of the Swedish
So back in the UK Sgt
Coastguard Search and Rescue
Farthing’s wife, Lisa – a POPT at
force, captained by Cdr Paul
HMS Raleigh – tracked down an
Carbonnier who head up the res-
animal rescue centre in Kabul run
cue organisation for the Swedish
by London-based charity Mayhew
south coast.
Animal Home.
A two-day car trip was arranged
■ CHILDREN at Birches Green
for the five adult dogs and numer-
Infant School near Birmingham
ous unexpected puppies – howev-
– despite being landlocked –
● MA Charlie Bridger of HMS Ocean has won the title Medical have a strong affinity with the
Assistant of the Year 2006-07
Picture: LA(Phot) Ray Jones
er escapees and illness meant that
only three dogs and two puppies
Royal Navy after their new play-
arrived safely at their Kabul base.
ground with a wooden ship was
A bright
However in early July two of the
officially opened by Logs Maria
dogs – Nowzad and Tali – arrived
Carter and CPO Douglas of
in the UK to begin their quar-
the Birmingham Armed Forces
antine period before takiong up
Careers Office.
residence in their new home – the
The school had been teaching
house of Sgt Penny Farthing and
the children all about ships, sail-
● Sgt ‘Penny’ Farthing and Tali, the Nowzad rescue dog
wife Lisa.
ors, and Naval life and terms –
Charlie
The couple set up a charity
animal shelters in Afghanistan and leigh Barracks in Plymouth have
so when the sailors arrived they
Nowzad Dogs to make it all possi-
help educate local people on ani- acquired some feather friends af-
were greeted with a barrage
ble –
www.nowzaddogs.co.uk. mal welfare. ter a Pied Wagtail set up nest in
of questions all about where
Sgt Farthing said: “The reason “I can’t wait to get Nowzad one of their patrol vehicles.
they had visited and Naval
we set up the charity in the first and Tali home to meet my other The guards promptly laid up
traditions.
ON board HMS Ocean in
But appeals to her boss’ leni-
place was that we couldn’t just two dogs.” their vehicle and under instruction
Maria said: “We think that
the Caribbean MA Charlie
ent nature fell on stony ground
walk away and ignore them.
maybe a few ideas were planted
■ GUARDS from the Military from DEFRA, they wait for the
Bridger was celebrating the
with the reply: “Well, if you don’t
“We will be able to help fund Provost Guard Service at Bick- baby birds to fly the nest...
for future sailors.”
■ CELEBRATIONS took place
title of Medical Assistant of
come, how are you going to pick
in HMS Nelson’s wardroom for
the Year 2006-07, a title she
up your Medical Assistant of the
Lt Don Cantellow, who enjoyed
won over 600 other Medical Year award?”
Dislocation of expectation his 100th birthday amid the fi ner-
Assistants across all three of “I was shocked,” said Charlie,
ies of the offi cers’ mess.
the Armed Forces. who admitted that she had not
SOLDIERS from C Company, Don was a Boreman Boy entrant
Charlie came top of her class expected to win the award.
Second Battalion, the Parachute at the Royal Hospital School dur-
during training, then excelled on CPO Darkin laughed: “We’re
Regiment were quite literally ing World War 1, and joined the
board her first ship, HMS Ocean, so chuffed for her. Not everybody shown the ropes when they spent
RN as an Artificer Apprentice in
receiving a write-up from her boss wins an award like that.” two days with the Royal Marine
1923.
CPOMA Tanja Darkin that pro- The four medics on board the experts in mountain warfare,
World War 2 saw Don in action
pelled her to the top of the list of massive carrier are a close-knit the RM Commando Mountain
off Norway and on Arctic con-
new-entry MAs. crew, all newcomers to Ocean’s Leaders.
voy duty before being torpedoed
Charlie admits that when she company for this deployment, and Day one featured the delights of
off Malta in 1944, whereupon
first arrived on board ship her coping with a list of ailments that vertical cliff assaults, introducing a
he saw out the rest of the war
messmates didn’t even know what have ranged from sniffles to life- whole raft of new skills to soldiers
with Dauntless being repaired in
she looked like for the first two threatening injuries during their more used to dropping in than
Philadelphia.
weeks as she was so busy getting four months in the Caribbean. scaling up.
to grips with the massive sickbay Although it does seem that it’s Day two acquainted the Paras
■ LLOGS Jason Lee has been
at the heart of the air assault the sporting activities generated with the new phrase ‘dislocation
appointed the first Junior
carrier. along the ship’s island-hopping of expectation’ – or always expect
Ratings’ mess president on
CPOMA Darkin, practice man- that has created a hefty propor- the unexpected.
board the first of the Navy’s
ager on board the assault ship, tion of the injuries that have filled Survival behind enemy lines
new D-class destroyers, HMS
said: “She has earnt it. We’re really their days. was the theme of this day, build-
Daring.
proud of her.” The assault ship boasts two ing shelters, trapping animals and
Jason is the first Junior Rates
Naturally the news of her top wards offering 14 beds, and an starting fires.
mess president in the Fleet, a
position was delivered to Charlie operating theatre in an impressive Sgt Phil Stout, a Platoon
management structure along
similar lines to Senior Rates
with the usual medical humour. medical centre. Sergeant with Second Battalion,
– a change which has been
The young rating was called in The tight-knit community on said: “This training has really
brought in to reflect the differ-
by her Chief to be told that she board Team Ocean are a real boon opened the eyes of the young sol-
● Sgt Peter Curly RM ‘encourages’ a soldier from 2 Para
ence in messes on board the
had to attend the Medical Director to the medics. diers and has affirmed our links
General (Naval Symposium) at “When there’s an emergency, with the Royal Marines.
the Institute of Naval Medicine in you can always rely on the ship’s “If you need an answer, ask
Gosport in July. company, and particularly 9 an expert – and the Mountain
Spud’s bravery
Type 45s where junior rates will
be accommodated in six-berth
cabins with a communal recrea-
tion space.
As the symposium followed Assault Squadron RM – they are Leaders are most definitely that.”
soon after the warship’s return to always there to help,” said CPO WO2 Dave Fradley RM from
THE bravery of LS Stephen oil terminal last year. The British
■ ONE of the Navy’s Merlin heli-
home port after her four-month Darkin. the Commando Training Centre
‘Spud’ Murphy has been recog- sailor was on board the US ship
copters showed off its prowess to
deployment, it was understand- “And the Royal Marines know at Lympstone said: “A mutual
nised with a Commander-in-Chief Ogden when the explosion blasted
engineering students at Ulster
able that the medic was a little their stuff. The lads on here, I respect exists, and as Britain’s
Fleet commendation. through the KAAOT oil platform.
University.
disappointed that her homecom- think they’re excellent. They’re only theatre-entry troops it’s good
Spud saved the lives of two Spud commandeered an Iraqi
Dr Richard Dean, Dean of the
ing plans might be disrupted. always there for you.”
to pass on skills and draw on each
Iraqi marines and a civilian work- Fast Aluminium Boat and its crew
Faculty of Engineering, said: “The
other’s experience.”
er when a fire broke out on an and began searching for survi-
visit by the Royal Navy and their
vors. latest Merlin aircraft is a fantastic
He pulled the three men from opportunity for our students to
A chip off the old block
the water, then went back to the see at first hand some of the most
burning platform to evacuate the sophisticated technology in the
other marines and workers from world.
IT IS stressful enough for many new recruits as their passing-out
the site. “This is a unique opportunity
parade forms up at the Commando Training Centre Lympstone – let
Spud has already been recog- to see cutting-edge technology
alone when your dad is the Regimental Sergeant Major in charge of
nised with an award from the in areas of engineering such as
the event.
Iraqi Navy. computing, technology, electrical,
Royal Marine Jack Botham, aged 17, has now passed for duty
Spud added: “It’s a real hon- electronic and mechanical engi-
with 930 Troop the King’s Squad. And never was a young Royal
our to receive a commendation neering.
Marine under such intense scrutiny from the assembled audience
and I’m pleased that by being “Engineering offers young grad-
– and to his credit, Jack did not put a foot or rifle wrong.
out there we are helping to train uates the chance to be involved in
WO1 (RSM) ‘Both’ Botham said: “I was immensely proud to be
the Iraqi Navy to react in similar improving and changing the world
part of my son’s pass-out parade.”
they live in and offers a variety of
It is believed to be the first occasion that the serving Regimental
situations.
activities seldom matched in other
Sergeant Major at the CTCRM has officiated on the same parade
“The two Iraqi marines came
careers.”
that his son passed for duty.
down to our base in Umm Qasr
Jack is now serving with Zulu Company, 45 Commando Royal
every couple of weeks afterwards
Marines in Arbroath, Scotland.
to thank me.
“They brought their parents and
● Royal Marine Jack Botham and father Regimental Sergeant Major said that I am now an honorary
WO1 ‘Both’ Botham member of their families.” in brief
news
0018-019_NN_aug07.indd 118-019_NN_aug07.indd 1 224/7/07 16:43:134/7/07 16:43:13
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