34 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2008
News and information for serving personnel
Make the
Young
reservists
Seminar
most of
discuss
keeps
support
HOW do you persuade your
WOs in
resources
civilian boss to support you when
you want to take nine months off
for a deployment to Afghanistan
or Iraq, writes S/Lt Laura Harrison
picture
RNR of HMS Wildfire.
This was one of the questions
put to more than 40 young
THE first Joint Services Warrant
reserve officers from nearly 30
Officers’ Course (JSWOC)
I WONDERED long and hard about what I should dedicate my
countries at the 2008 Interallied
seminar has been staged at the
six-monthly slot in Navy News to this time, writes Kim Richardson
Confederation of Reserve Officers
Joint Services Command and Staff
Chair Naval Families Federation. (CIOR) Summer Congress, which
College at Shrivenham.
What sort of topics are high on the NFF agenda at present? Housing, took place in Istanbul.
The seminar was designed
Service Command Paper, securing school places and that old chestnut, Amongst the 40 were 2/Lt
to provide an update on issues
timely efficient appropriate Andrew Pugsley (RMR London),
covered during the course, and
communication! S/Lt Gemma Fox (HMS King
99 graduates attended, including
At about the same time as I was Alfred), Lt Paul Ladislaus (HMS
a number of multinational and
wondering about what you might Calliope), Lt Sally Armstrong
multi-agency students.
find interesting, my mum gave (HMS Vivid) and Lt Kathleen
Although a wide range of
me an old book with some notes Standen (HMS Wildfire).
subjects were covered, they all had
written by my great-grandmother, The five were participating in the
an operational bias.
Ethel Pook. Young Reserve Officers’ Workshop
The seminar also allowed
The book contained handwritten (YROW), a key component of the
graduates to network with each
notes about her experiences as a Congress.
other and guest speakers. Naval wife nearly 100 years ago. Lt Hannah MacKenzie (HMS
The keynote speech was Here is what she writes: Wildfire), a participant in YROW
given by Defence Secretary Des “To understand why this day the lovely lawns and the men, all in 2008, also attended as a syndicate
Browne, who delivered a strategic stands out in my memory I must white cricket gear, were enjoying facilitator for one of the groups.
overview and then took part in a start my story a little earlier. their game. It was a typical English Enabling NATO operations
lively question-and-answer session “In 1911 I was married to a summer afternoon scene. through effective employer support,
under the Chatham House Rule, young Naval shipwright who was “I don’t remember how long we the theme of this year’s symposium,
under which information may be stationed in Portsmouth. sat but it was not very long when was the topic of discussion for
freely used but the anonymity of “We started married life in a we were startled by a big fire bell
● Ethel Pook on her wedding day in 1911
young reserve officers as they
participants is strictly maintained. little house at Southsea and for just ringing.
identify with Ethel. go in an emergency or during a
brainstormed how they could
Current operations and over a year we were very happy. “Of course we did not realise
Long periods at sea, sometimes family crisis when the Serving
make their military and civilian
particular issues were analysed
“By this time we had just
what it meant, but within a few
little or no notice before your person is not contactable? I am
careers complement one another.
from the perspective of each
had a little son. When he
minutes the men had all vanished
loved one goes, your loved ones not convinced they do.
The participants came to Turkey
Service, while senior officers
was a few weeks old my
into their quarters.
going off to war and a sense of We have a wealth of resources
to share their experiences – not all
from Canada, Kenya and France
husband was sent to a ship
“After a very short time, they
uncertainty about their return. available to families which they
countries have organisations such
updated the audience on operations
which sailed away to the
all came out dressed in their
But we have moved forward. may not need now, but in the future
as the UK’s SaBRE (Supporting
and changes to defence policy in
Mediterranean and he was
Navy uniform and carrying hand
Ethel didn’t have any of the might just make a difference.
Britain’s Reservists and Employers)
their respective countries.
away for two years.
luggage which they must have
communication channels we My message to you today is
to fight the reservist’s corner.
Prizes were also handed out hurriedly packed.
have today; she relied solely on pick up a copy of Navy News or
The workshop also contributes
to outstanding students on the “When he eventually came “They had not time to talk to
infrequent letters and the support our in-house magazine Homeport,
to understanding between the
various courses from the 2007 home we knew that he would be us, but all made their way to one
of friends and family. log on to our website and check
officers of different nations, who
programme. due for a home billet and we felt side of the ground and we just
Email, Paradigm, RNCom and out RNcom
are increasingly working together
The day ended with a formal safe in looking forward to being followed.
mobile phones have all made Take a look at the Service
in multinational forces.
dinner, at which principal together again. “We found that there was a
keeping in touch easier. Personnel Command Paper.
There was also a chance to
guest Mr Browne was joined “Imagine our delight when he narrow railway there with trucks
Our welfare provision in the Tell us about the good things,
improve communication skills as
by a number of senior officers, was drafted to Osborne House in on it. The men all loaded their
form of NPFS and Royal Marines also tell us about the things you
findings were gathered, discussed
including Rear Admiral Neil the Isle of Wight. luggage on these trucks and
Welfare are attuned to the needs find more difficult about Naval life
and collated for presentation to
Morisetti, the Commandant Joint “At that time there was a Royal started pushing them.
of our families. and, more importantly, tell us what
others.
Services Command and Staff Naval Cadet College in the grounds “We found that this led down to
When you combine this more we could be doing about it.
Any reserve officers under the
College. of Osborne House which was River Medina which runs between
technology and support with the If my great granddaughter picks
age of 30 and below the rank of
For those who have yet to attend one of Queen Victoria’s favourite East and West Cowes.
voice of families being louder and up this article in 100 years time I
Lt (RNR) or Captain (RMR) who
the JSWOC, you can find details residences. My husband’s duties “There we found a launch
more listened to than ever before, it wonder what she will think.
would like to attend YROW 2009
at www.da.mod.uk/courses/ were to do with the College. waiting and the men all crowded
makes me wonder what she would I will never know – but what
in Sofia, Bulgaria, should contact
courses-by-rank/warrant-
“We decided that to be together on to this. They had no time to
think of Naval family life today. I do know is that today we can
the UK Reserve Forces Association
officers-courses/ or call 01793
we would store our home and would
talk to us and all we could follow
But, and it is a big but, are make a difference.
for further information.
788854.
go over and live at the Island.
was that it would all be over by
families aware of what is available In a constructive diplomatic way,
See www.ukrfa.org/ for
“My husband obtained rooms
Christmas and they would soon
Day of Prayer
to them, do they know where to and together – let’s do just that!
details.
for us and we went over in the
be back again.
beginning of August, 1914.
“It was a very hasty goodbye
“The first thing we received was
and they all waved to us and sailed
for Forces
an invitation to a cricket match at
away over to Portsmouth.
Last QinetiQ shares are sold
Osborne.
“We wives and families were
“Being August, the cadets
left not knowing what to do, but THE Ministry of Defence has announced the sale The firm employs around 13,00 people at
THE Armed Forces’ Chaplaincies
would be on holiday. The match
we gradually made our way back of its remaining ordinary shares in QinetiQ Group locations around the UK, and remains a key
and the Military Christian
was arranged between the officers
to our temporary homes. I did not plc at a price of 206p per share. supplier to the Armed Forces.
organisations are staging a Day
and ratings, and the officers were
see my husband again for a whole Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Although the Government no longer has a
of Prayer for the Armed Forces
supplying a tea for wives and
year. I have often wondered what Baroness Taylor said: “I am pleased to announce financial stake in QinetiQ, it will retain a special
on Thursday November 6 at St
families.
happened to the tea…” that with this sale of shares in QinetiQ we have share in the company to protect the UK’s defence
Clement Danes, Strand, London.
“We arrived and sat around on
Many of you will be able to completed the final stage of its privatisation.” and security interests.
In past times of conflict, the
nation was called upon to pray for
sailors, soldiers and airmen, and
with the Forces once again heavily
involved in various operations the
Naval trophies made available
chaplaincies have set up a focal
point for such a day.
The afternoon will consist
THE Trustees of the RN Trophy at public auction, the Trustees It is the Trustees’ intention that time the item was originally
of prayer, worship and topical
Fund plan to dispose of a wish serving and former Royal items be used and appreciated by presented;
briefings between 12.45pm and
number of trophies – cigarette Navy personnel to have the those to whom their provenance To the person who served for marina
4pm, with a light lunch served
boxes, cigarette lighters, ashtrays opportunity to purchase these and history might be significant the longer period in the ship or
from midday.
and wine decanter coasters – for items and, while photos cannot – and that they will not be establishment;
For more information and a TROPHY P12156 is a 23in diameter
which future usage is unlikely. be provided, further details of ‘recycled’ on eBay… To other persons.marina
prayer sheet for those unable to silver punchbowl, originally presented
The majority are either of blue these items in question can be To encourage bids from serving Bids for a particular item
make it to London see www. to the armoured cruiser HMS Bedford
or silver plate, and original donors obtained from the Secretary to and former Service personnel, no should be made to the Secretary
pray4ourforces.org.uk or email by the County of Bedfordshire in
are being given the opportunity the RN Trophy Fund Trustees reserve price has been set and in to the Trustees at the address
forcesprayerday@yahoo.co.uk March 1905 in order to be competed
to reclaim their gifts. at the RN Trophy Centre, Hardy the event of there being two equal shown above by Friday October
for annually by the
Before selling the remainder Block, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth bids for an item, preference will
31 2008. Successful bidders will
It’s your 2-6
gun crews.
PO1 3HH, or by email at either be given in the following order:
be informed shortly thereafter.
The bowl bears a
CXP RNTC SEC on the Intranet To any person who was in marina
Envelopes containing written
depiction of a gun
or at cxprntcsec@a.dii.mod.uk the ship or establishment at the
bids are to be marked ‘SBA 1’ in
NEED to get your message crew and details of
the top left corner, and
across to the rest of the RN? the winners; the base this is to be the subject
To feature in 2-6 contact
TROPHY P12878 is an oil painting including Tartar, for the Allied
has panels bearing
of email bids.
Lt Cdr Gregor Birse (Fleet
by Russell Flint of five Tribal-class landings at Salerno, which took
battle honours won
All must include the
Media Ops), 93832 8809.
destroyers under air attack in the place on September 9 1943.
by previous HMS
Channel in June 1944, presented There was no bombardment,
following details:
Bedfords.
to HMS Tartar in 1963 by the Tribal yet the beaches were captured,
Name of bidder;marina
One honour
Class Memorial Committee. despite fierce resistance.
Details of item being marina
is Camperdown
The ship in the foreground is British and US forces landed at
bid for;
(October 11 1797),
HMS Tartar, the others being two locations, and after day one
marinaDates of service in
won by the 74-gun
Eskimo, Ashanti and the Canadian were still ten miles apart, but 24
the particular ship or
HMS Bedford when
Haida and Huron. hours later they had linked up and
establishment;
part of Duncan’s
The Navy provided 126 ships, controlled 40 miles of coast.
marinaAmount of bid;
North Sea Squadron. Full contact address.
marina
News and information for serving personnel
0034-035_NN_oct.indd 134-035_NN_oct.indd 1 119/9/08 15:18:169/9/08 15:18:16
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