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NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2007
FAA farewell to Tugg
Family and friends of the cartoonist Tugg – Lt Cecil Willson – packed the small church of St Bartholomew’s, in Yeovilton, for a service on June 8 to celebrate his life and achievements. Tugg, who died last year aged 76, spent his Naval career as an armourer in the Fleet Air Arm, but it was his artistic talents which brought him fame and recognition throughout the Naval Service and beyond. His widow, Elizabeth Willson, with their three sons and other family, joined Tugg’s former friends and colleagues for the service, which was taken by Father Graeme Elmore, RN, and hosted by Vice Admiral Adrian Johns in his capacity as Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm. Numbers for the service were limited because of the size of St Bartholomew’s, now the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church, but many of Tugg’s former colleagues attended to hear tributes from his former colleagues. Vice Admiral Johns told the assembled
guests that Tugg’s famous flight safety cartoons were known to have a wonderful effect on morale, bringing a sense of proportion and humour to the most challenging of situations. Lt Cdr Harry O’Grady raised much laughter when he remembered Tugg’s role as a leading light in the Fleet Air Arm’s ‘Fight Tights’ campaign, following the infamous DCI which announced that no more black stockings were to be issued to Wrens. It had, he said, a devastating effect on morale. The service was followed by a fly-past of a Sea Fury, Hawks and helicopters, and a reception at the Fleet Air Arm Museum with a display of Tugg’s work. Among the other guests were Vice Admiral Sir Edward Anson and Rear Admiral Terry Loughran, as well as the Commanding Officers of RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose, and Cdre Jerry Stanford, Commodore Fleet Air Arm.
Operational Honours l The Duke of Edinburgh meets with Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade at Stonehouse Barracks
Picture: PO(Phot) Dave Husbands
A proud day for the Marines
THE NEW batch of operational honours has brought 39 awards for gallantry and meritorious service for personnel of 3 Commando Brigade.
The Brigade covered itself in glory in heated battle against the Taleban in Afghanistan, and the Royal Marines and fellow soldiers from their allied Army units were recognised in the honours announced on July 19. The awards which cover all the operational and active theatres of service for the military included two Distinguished Service Orders, one Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, ten Military Crosses and two
Queen’s Gallantry Medals (for the list in full, see right). The Duke of Edinburgh – the Captain General of the Royal Marines – met several of those receiving honours at the Stonehouse Barracks on the day before the announcement. Brig David Capewell, Commander of 3 Commando Brigade, spoke about his brigade’s deployment to Afghanistan that ended earlier this year: “The operation was characterised by an intensity probably not seen since the Korean War. “The awards bear testimony to the magnificent performance of the Commando Brigade.” Among those receiving an
award is Mne Matthew Bispham of 42 Commando, who was recognised for his “fighting spirit, resolve and unflinching courage “in action in Afghanistan less than three months after receiving his green beret. When told about his Military Cross, Matthew – known as Bish to his oppos – said he was ‘gobsmacked’. “It is humbling to work with lads who are willing to fight and die next to you. “They become part of your family and it makes everything you do worthwhile.” He added: “Every man I served with deserves recognition in my eyes.”
Operational Honours and Awards, July 19 2007 AFGHANISTAN Member of the Order of British Empire – Maj Oliver Andrew Lee RM, Lt Col Ewen Murchison RM, WO2 Martin Charles Reeves RM Distinguished Service Order – Lt Col Matthew John Holmes RM, Brig Jeremy Hywel Thomas RM Associate Royal Red Cross – Lt Frank Kelly QARNNS Conspicuous Gallantry Cross – Cpl John Thomas Thompson Royal Marines Military Cross – Mne Matthew Bispham RM, Mne Daniel Claricoates RM, Cpl Michael Cowe RM, Mne Ian Paul Danby RM, Mne Daniel Fisher RM, Cpl Alan Hewitt RM, Sgt Jason Layton RM, Cpl Simon Willey RM Mention in Despatches – Capt Alistair Scott Carns RM, Mne Thomas Curry RM (killed in action), Capt Duncan Graham Forbes RM, Maj Philip Gadie RM, Mne Jonathan Paul Hart RM, Mne Alexander Hoole RM, WO2 Robert Daniel Jones RM, Cpl Adam Lison RM, Mne Paul Mayfield RM, Capt
Jason Robert Milne RM, Cpl Ashley Oates RM, 2Lt Richard Sharp RM, WO2 Steven Shepherd RM, Mne Matthew Smith RM Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service – Maj Matthew Churchward RM, Lt Col Duncan Andrew Dewar RM, Lt Col Charles Richard Stickland RM IRAQ Military Cross – Capt James Knight RM, Cpl Terry Robert Knights RM Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service – Lt Cdr Richard Henry McHugh NATIONAL OPERATIONS Officer of the Order of the British Empire – Cdr Stafford Allan Seward Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service – Sgt Wayne Hunt RM NON-COMBATANT GALLANTRY Queen’s Gallantry Medal – POACMN James Brendan O’Donnell Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air – Lt Guy Patrick Norris, Lt Cdr Martin James Rhodes
THE TIME OF YOUR LIVES
NAVY NEWS looks back through its pages to recall some of the August headlines of past decades...
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l Echoes in the past – destroyer HMS Newcastle takes to the sea for her first sea trials
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40 years ago
30 years ago
20 years ago
AN ARTIST’S impression graced the back page of August 1967, headlined the ‘New destroyer of the seventies’. It was the Type 82 destroyer, of which in fact only one was built. And she is still in service with the Royal Navy, although she doesn’t go too far nowadays – HMS Bristol.
ANOTHER decade, another new destroyer – Type 42 HMS Newcastle, in build at Wallsend, goes to sea for the first time on contractors’ sea trials, just as this month we celebrate as Type 45 HMS Daring begins her sea trials on the Clyde. The Type 42 decommissioned in February 2005.
AWAY from the world of new destroyers, it was another kind of virgin territory that sparked attention in 1987 – frigate HMS Argonaut went to the rescue of Richard Branson and Per Lindstrand after their balloon, the Virgin Flyer, ditched into the Irish Sea during their attempted transatlantic crossing.
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