NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2008 21
Body and
soul
● HMS Monmouth’s Merlin helicopter returns to the ship during
board and search exercises in South-East Asia during Volans 07
Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Griffiths
OLD and bold sea dogs of
yore could easily be away
from home waters for years
Bones, Bish and
on end.
Neither did they have
the benefit of modern
Jimmy the One
communications nor jet
aircraft.
WHILE Bones (the ship’s doctor) properly co-ordinated, and I try to
But whatever the expectations
and Bish (the padre) are looking resolve any conflicts at that level.”
of the different generations,
after the welfare of the crew, the A deployment such as Volans 07
a circumnavigation is still a
Executive Officer – Jimmy the One gives XOs plenty of opportunities.
considerable undertaking for man
– is doing the same for the ship. Paul shared conduct with
(and woman) and machine, and
Although the CO has overall his CO, Cdr Tim Peacock,
there are bound to be times when
responsibility, someone has to on numerous exercises and
people feel isolated – half-way
make sure the day-to-day running operations, and drove the ship on
across the Pacific, for example. of the ship goes smoothly.
several occasions.
Which is why the Royal Navy “My role is to let the Captain “In common with every other
ensures that the wellbeing of its not have to worry about any detail XO I would like a drive,” he said.
sailors are catered for, both body or anything that’s happening on “This is not warfighting, like
and soul. board,” said HMS Monmouth’s the guys in the Gulf, but you make
When HMS Monmouth XO Lt Cdr Paul Bristowe. the most of what you are given.
undertook her nine-month plus “He can look upwards and “This happens to be a job
Volans 07 deployment, she took outwards to look at our interaction which is very, very rewarding and
with her a doctor and a chaplain. from the ship and with HQ, and I satisfying as well.
Surg Lt Alex Wrigley joined the can take charge of co-ordinating “I have been in 19 years,
frigate in Brunei at the beginning all activities on board and getting and this is the first chance to
of June last year, taking over from into the detail of it. circumnavigate.
Surg Lt Nick Leather, and stayed “But that is massively supported “There is massive kudos in going
with her until the end of the
by the Heads of Department. around the world – I have been
deployment in December.
“The real detail is done by them envious of my buddies from Naval
The age profile of the ship
● Stock duty – Executive Offi cer Lt Cdr Paul Bristowe takes his turn during the frigate’s village fete
Picture: LA(Phot) Brian Douglas
– I sit over them to make sure it’s Task Group 2000 ever since.”
meant that Alex could expect a
relatively healthy bunch of sailors, – during Volans 07 he took his for the first time,” said John. and then come up. That is what
but he had to be ready for almost turn on the rota for Visit Liaison “Things arise, and it’s useful to they are comfortable with.
anything.
Officer (VLO). have someone on board they can “Others need to spend more
“The kind of things you get
“I was VLO for Okinawa and talk to in complete confidence, time on it. That is what I am here
specialist legal advice
are fractures, because there are
Hawaii – the job cycles through which is particularly special. for, to see people when they need
lots of potential hazards aboard a
the wardroom,” said Alex. “I suppose when the deployment to, even if it is daily.
warship at sea,” he said.
“It starts about six to eight turns from the mid-point to “Otherwise just generally being
to forces personnel
“But there is also a full range of
weeks before you get there, coming home other issues arise. around the ship, kind of earning
other medical problems – just not
because you are the focal point for “People are thinking about going trust and showing that you are
Suffered a Military Injury?
in the volume you would expect
all departments on board to make back home to any issues which there for the people on board.
We deal with all types of injury claim involving
at home.”
sure there is no overlap. might be bubbling away there, “People sometimes say you the military.
The ship’s doctor is akin to “It is a job of a lot of very small which might be on people’s minds. must be too busy but we are here We can assist you with your claim under the
a family GP back on shore. parts – a lot of liaising with lots “I think Monmouth had a to spend time with people, to help
new AFCS and advise you on whether to
“The day-to-day work is primary
of different people and emailing reputation as a very happy ship, build bridges, and people know we
pursue your claim in the civil courts under our
care, with a little bit of vaccination,
different agencies. and it is still a very happy ship. are there if they need a particular
‘no win no fee’ specialist military legal
guarding against the sun and
“It is hectic – things come up, “This deployment has not done issue to be addressed.
malaria, and so on,” he said.
plans change and you need to call anything to dampen this. “If this ship was to go into a
advice scheme.
As in the case of a GP, if there is
on services you didn’t think you “It is a long time away, but conflict zone those bridges will
a more serious problem, then the
would need before. for the guys on board visiting have been built, and if people are
Police Interview/
help of specialists can be sought.
“You need to sort things out, some amazing places has helped under stress they can feel happy to
Courts Martial
“When we are abroad, the RN
but we are often dealing with to offset being away from home. come and see the chaplain.”
Nigel Burn and Gilbert
contact
will pay for whatever is appropriate
agents, who are very helpful.” “Generally speaking, morale J
Blades are well known for
Nigel Burn or Tean Butcher
ohn has no formal rank on
Bank Street, Lincoln LN2 1DR
locally,” said Alex.
While Alex looks after the seems to be very high on this board, though he is a member of their Courts Martial
Tel: 01522 512345 between 9am - 5.15pm
“The Americans have been
sailors’ physical ailments, ship’s ship.” the wardroom. expertise throughout the
or for Military Discipline Matters only contact
absolutely fantastic, both in
padre John Thompson-Vear also The ‘churchy’ side of things – “I can go straight to the junior
UK and Europe. Nigel Burn Mob: 07775 860608 after 6pm
Hawaii and in Japan.
helps keep the crew in fine fettle. Sunday services, memorial events rates’ dining room if necessary
“When we have been staying
Father John – or the Bish in ashore and so on – are not the – which can be handy if you miss
www.wilkinchapman.co.uk
We can also advise on:
in an American establishment, we
Naval parlance – did two stints main part of John’s role. breakfast – but I do not go barging
Employment Issues
have found their medical facilities
on Monmouth, from February to “The main thrust of my work in,” he said.
to be fantastic, and they have May and September to November, daily would be pastoral.
“We have got to respect that the
Family Problems
offered us more help than we fitting in a spell on Montrose in “Sometimes it’s just the odd messes are these guys’ homes.
House Purchases
could need. I am personally very the Mediterranean in between. word or bit of conversation, and “All doors open, and I am
Wills
grateful for that.” “At the beginning of the that is all people want to do. generally welcomed wherever I go.
Being the RN, Alex does not deployment there are a lot of “Some people can only “I am a friend and adviser to all A LEADING SPECIALIST IN MILITARY LAW
have the luxury of just one job people coming away from home effectively go deep for a short time on board.”
021_NN_feb.indd 1 16/1/08 15:18:58
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