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NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007 41
HMS York repays
unit’s hospitality
THE sailors of HMS York had such – and spending some time on the
a good time at the York unit that bridge.
they repaid the favour by inviting They watched the ship’s
five cadets and a member of staff machine gun in action, and got
to join the ship’s company. the chance to fire SA80 rifles at
The destroyer sailed from floating targets off the stern.
Newcastle to Hull, giving an The Lord Mayor of York, Cllr
opportunity for the visitors to see Irene Waudby, was the VIP at
how the Royal Navy maintains its York’s latest quarterly passing
high standards. out parade, when three new
After a guided tour of the ship cadets – Steph Spaven, Sam
the new recruits were given overalls Wadsworth and Reece Macleod
and rags and put to work, helping – were enrolled into the unit by
to clean up the ship in preparation Commanding Officer Lt (SCC)
for a visit by dignitaries the next Caroline Meek.
day! This was then followed by
The cadets were then split into presentations of badges and
smaller groups to visit various trophies.
department, seeing how the stores The two top awards went to Cdt
are organised, putting in a stint Jessica Meek, who won the unit’s
in the galley, taking a look at the best quarterly cadet trophy, and
operations room – where they OC Sarah Greaves, who collected
were shown how to identify and the Captain of HMS York’s Most
track targets for the ship’s weapons Improved Cadet award.
High fi ves at Leicester
LEICESTER unit managed an LC Ruth Rollings said: “The
impressive performance against whole team put 110 per cent into
rival teams from their district, the practice and the games.
beating five-times winners “We all enjoyed ourselves and
Northampton on the way to are all very proud of what we have
winning a five-a-side football achieved.
competition. “We are hoping to carry our
The female team, aged between enthusiasm through to the area
12 and 16, notched up their success competition and intend to make
in a nailbiting final at Bramcote ourselves and the unit proud once
Barracks in Warwickshire. again.”
Gateshead
That put them through to the
area finals next month, where they
will compete with more than 60
other units.
Northampton’s
global reach
In the wake of heroes
accept the
Challenge
GATESHEAD cadets
NORTHAMPTON leading cadets
A GROUP of Royal Marines
took up the St Dunstan’s
Cadet Challenge by rowing
Brendan May and Kerry Mason
cadets pushed themselves a boat 13 miles from the
and PO Emma Rooney were
to the limit when they
mouth of the Tyne past
selected from 400 units to attend
followed the path of the
Newcastle and Gateshead
international exchanges in Canada, to Scotswood Bridge.
the Netherlands and Sweden.
Cockleshell Heroes from
The challenge took six
During their stays they lived World War 2. hours, with the crews
for two weeks alongside their
After a pep talk, the RM
changing every 25 minutes.
counterpaart cadets, making new
Volunteer Cadet Corps
Accompanying them
friends and seeing different ways
of training.
Portsmouth Division team
were two Cheverton
Champ power boats and
Emma said: “It was an honour
set out for Dover, their boats
a 32ft cruiser which carried
to be selected for the International
stowed on a trailer provided
reserve crews and members
Exchange and it was a great by Bramber Trailers. of St Dunstan’s.
experience travelling to Canada A rapid ferry crossing to Calais The latter felt it was only
and taking part in their training
● RMVCC Portsmouth cadets on their way to Bordeaux
with Sea France, who gave the fair to lend a hand, and
and courses.” travellers a special rate, was to the wartime raiders at St as a mirror. wall of their bunker is a plaque took turns in pulling the
Six members of the unit cruised marina followed by a long haul through Georges-de-Didonne, and their
They made good progress and bullet scars marking the spot
boat with the cadets.
off the Essex coast in sail training
the night to Royan and the first view of the estuary, around upstream, though there was still a
where Sgt Wallace and Mne Ewart
The St Dunstan’s
yachts TS Leopold Muller, TS
Gironde Estuary. seven miles wide at the coast. fierce current to contend with.
were executed.
Cadet Challenge is not
City Liveryman and TS Vigilant.
The first call was the memorial On the other side of the estuary Their final day on the river took
Here, after a commemoration
predominantly a fund-
the party was met by their French them to Bordeaux, having been
ceremony, C/Sgt Ray Cooper
raising exercise, although
contact, Francois Boisnier, and
passed by a freighter heading for
presented Frankton Medals to his
any such benefits are
other local officials, including
the same dock that Cpl Laver and
naturally welcomed.
Madame Baudra, the mayor of
crews.
Mne Mills had attacked in 1942.
It is primarily designed to
the district, who in 1942 advised
The expedition officially ended
Tying up at the site of Hasler’s
test cadets physically and
Maj ‘Blondie’ Hasler, leader of
and Sparks’ attack, the RMVCC
at Ruffec and lunch at the Torque
mentally, and also helps
the Operation Frankton raid on
party paid their respects at yet
Blanche bar, where Hasler and
raise funds for the charity,
Bordeaux, as to where to hide, and
another memorial erected by the
Sparks met the French Resistance which supports Servicemen
later returned with food.
French to the British warriors.
and started their trip home. and women who have
Accommodation was provided
After paddling round to the
Among the other sponsors were seriously damaged eyesight
by the French, and early the
basins which housed the German
Prijon, whose kayaks stood the or are blind.
following morning the boats and
submarine pens, the cadets came
test, and Dave Evans at Memory-
Last year’s winners, 2513
kit were unloaded and the paddle
ashore to be met by members of
Map who helped their navigation.
(Romney Marsh) Sqn ATC,
upstream to Bordeaux began.
the French Navy and the deputy For a full report on the
pushed and pulled a railway
Following the west bank, close
mayor of Blanquefort. expedition and the history of the
carriage along the Romney,
enough to be out of the main
The town was used in 1942 1942 raid, see www.cockleshell-
Hythe and Dymchurch
channel but far enough out so
by the German Navy, and on the
railway.
that paddle splashes could not
cadets.com
be heard from the bank, just as
in 1942, the paddlers aimed for
Pointe Aux Oiseaux, where the
British commandos met Madame
Nevis makes debut● Cadets on the foredeck of TS John Jerwood
Baudra and other locals.
Training ships go on tour
Once ashore, and safe from the LOCHABER cadets were joined by the Provost of outboard engine, will be used to train the cadets
vicious tidal stream, the cadets set Lochaber, Cllr Allan Henderson, and his wife Sandra in seamanship, navigation, teamworking and boat
up camp and relaxed. who named the unit’s new powerboat at the Outward handling skills while also acting as a safety boat for
The following day was not as Bound Centre on Locheil. sailing activities.
CADETS from the South West though clothing was reported to planned, as wet, wild weather
Following tradition, they were assisted by the “We understand that this is the biggest grant ever
formed the ship’s company for TS be “tight on arrival”. kept them off the river, so they
youngest cadet in the unit, ten-year-old Junior Cadet awarded to the unit and we would like to say a huge
John Jerwood as the training ship Another training ship, TS regrouped and waited for better Matthew Cattanach. ‘thank-you’ to everyone who has been involved in
completed the final three legs of Royalist, has also been raising the weather, taking the opportunity to The unit, based in Fort William, was recently making this project a success.”
her UK circumnavigation. profile of the Corps. visit the memorial plaques close to awarded a grant of £8,320 from the Awards for All Unit CO Derrick Warner said: “It means that
Members of the Penzance, The brig called into Bristol, where Sgt Wallace and Mne Ewart lottery scheme for the purchase of the fast motor we’ll be able to offer a whole new set of training
Avonmouth, Bristol Adventure and her berth was adjacent to the came ashore and were captured. boat, named Nevis, which will enable cadets to carry opportunities to both our cadets and instructors.
and Torfaen units started at International Balloon Festival site, The surf was still high the out a variety of waterborne skills. “So often today we hear about the negative side of
Holyhead, calling at Milford with up to 150 hot air balloons following day, but the crews The lottery award was the last piece in a jigsaw of young people and their behaviour, but here, in our
Haven, Penzance, Falmouth, rising beside the ship each day in braved the waves which crashed funding packages from organisations which include unit we, have a team of fantastic cadets, all of whom
Salcombe and Poole before perfect conditions. not just over the kayaks but over £1,500 from HBOS, £2,868 from the Scottish we can be proud of.
arriving at Gosport. Cadets carried out Ceremonial the occupants as well, and headed Communities Foundation and money raised by the “Getting young people out on the water and giving
The party was led by Lt Cdr Sunset and Manning of the Yards, into the rolling swell. unit itself. them new skills such as teamworking and taking
Martin Henwood, ASO Offshore while a District massed band They paddled 14 miles to the Unit chairman John Fotheringham said: “We were responsibility for themselves and others, in a fun way,
South West, and Lt Cdr Sonia provided music. harbour of St Christoly-Medoc, really delighted to receive this substantial grant, is what we’re all about.”
Lawes, CO of Bristol Adventure. There was even a surprise where they rested before crossing which marks a major stepping stone for our unit. The unit is looking for adults to help behind the
Despite a mean wind strength ‘reunion’ – the Bristol Channel six miles to the east bank, battling “It has taken a great deal of time and effort to put scenes and as instructors.
failing to drop below Force 5 all Pilot, Capt John Freeguard MN, four-foot waves and landing at the this funding package together, and I’d like to pay “You don’t need to be ex-Navy or even a skilled
week, the cadets were well catered revealed that he had sailed on same point as Hasler. particular tribute to the work put in by our treasurer, sailor,” said Derrick. “You just need to be keen to
for by CI Cath from Cardiff unit, board the Royalist as a cadet with Wednesday dawned calm and Bob Lee.” work with young people and have a couple of hours
and no seasickness was reported, the Avonmouth unit. bright, and the river was smooth The boat, a 5.7m Humber RIB powered by a 40hp to spare each week.”
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