A beautiful island and a history lesson to boot AN INVASION of France more than two centuries ago formed the basic template for an adventurous training expedition by Naval Service paddlers. Exercise Entente Amicable was a self-supported sea kayaking enterprise
which saw a team of seven – two Royal Navy, four Royal Marines and one former bootneck – travel to the Quiberon Peninsula of Brittany under the auspices of the Royal Navy Kayak Association. From Quiberon the group completed a circumnavigation of Belle
Île, following in the wake of Keppel and Studholme Hodgson’s invading amphibious forces of 1761 during the Seven Years War. The expedition involved open crossings of up to six nautical miles and an 18-mile journey along the exposed Côte Sauvage and, whilst the weather was relatively kind, the team were nonetheless exposed to a variety of tidal
Globe and Laurel and Hardy... YOU can never have too many Hollywood A-Listers wearing a Santa hat serving Royal Marines Christmas dinner at the spiritual home of the Corps…
So when Tom Hardy, star of The Dark Knight Rises and Inception, to name but two, and a bona fide member of the British big screen aristocracy, visited the Commando Training Centre he was happy to don festive headgear and help out in the galley. The London-born actor paid a three-day visit to Lympstone, where mere mortals are turned into Royal Marines commandos. During his visit the 36-year-old BAFTA-winner had the chance to watch recruits training on the (in)famous Tarzan assault course, and he also met with many of the staff and trainees based at the Devon camp. He later took part in some
Modern Urban Combat training with CTC’s Infantry Support Wing, before attending the King’s Squad Pass Out parade of 165 Troop as a VIP guest, when successful recruits earned their green berets and became fullyfledged commandos. “Thank you to all at CTC – and congratulations to all the Kings Squad – passing out,” Tom said as he left the establishment, which sits on the east bank of the River Exe just south of Exeter. “Thank you for having me – an honour and a privilege, and for an incredibly inspiring and memorable day. “Great men. Great team. Great families. “Thank you to the Royal Marines for your excellence, integrity, self-discipline and humility. Courage, determination, unselfishness and cheerfulness. “Just Amazing. True Honour.”
l Tom after taking part in paintballing in the Modern Urban Combat compound Picture: WO Richard White (CTCRM)
Bravery medal up for sale
THE bravery medal of a Dartmouth submariner who drowned in the North Sea two years after saving a pair of Canadian sailors from a similar fate, was up for sale as Navy News went to press. William Moyes was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in 1915, a year after the outbreak of World War 1. The courageous Serviceman went over the side of his ship with a line to save the lives of two Canadian seamen when a steamer sank near Quebec on the St Lawrence River. Two years later Moyes died off Harwich when his submarine collided with another British boat. Now his medal is up for sale at Martlesham auctioneers Lockdales. It was due to go under the hammer at the end of last month, with a catalogue guide price of £400£450. James Sadler, the Lockdales Auction Manager, www.navynews.co.uk
said: “The story of William Moyes is quite remarkable, and in the end desperately sad. “The submarine in which he perished has never been recovered. “William went out with a line to save the lives of two men and so richly deserved to receive his Royal Humane Society Medal in May 1915. “He was a true hero who came to grief not long after. “We are proud to have the medal in our possession and there is, not surprisingly, great interest in it from our part of the world, down in Devon, and indeed, from Canada.” LS Moyes died on January 19 1917 when his boat, E36, was in collision with sister submarine E43 as they headed for a patrol off Terschelling – the latter had slowed up to repair damage to a bridge screen and is thought to have collided with E36 in poor weather.
and meteorological conditions including a healthy Atlantic swell, which tested their navigation and paddling skills. Aside from the excellent paddling, a highlight was an evening presentation by Lt Col Dai Davies on the military relevance of Belle Île, which was particularly pertinent as it followed a visit to the island’s capital Le Palais with its impressive Vauban citadel.
The island was held for two years by British forces, as it was seen as a good location for a forward naval base commanding the Bay of Biscay. French attempts to retake it from the mainland failed because of the strength of British sea power. It was returned to the French under the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, in exchange for the island of Minorca. The presentation
by Lt Col Davies culminated in a toast to the endeavours of those that had gone before, using a vintage set of themed glasses which had been carefully carried in the bow section of his kayak throughout. If you’d like to know more about sea kayaking in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines contact the RNKA Sea Kayak Secretary, WO1 ‘Batch’ Batchelor (NAVY PERS-CM RM RMCA1 (Batchelor, James)
American city challenges Royal Navy
IN late August 1814, five ships of the Royal Navy made a daring journey up the Potomac River to support the forces of General Ross, who were attacking the American capital, Washington. Having touched the bottom of the river more than 20 times and survived a fierce summer storm that removed all their topmasts, the ships arrived off the city of Alexandria, a few miles downriver of Washington, having achieved their main objective of neutralising Fort Washington, on the riverbank. In order to preserve the city, the British demanded 100,000 pounds Sterling of ransom, mainly in the form of tobacco, sugar and other commodities. The Fleet then returned downriver, Ross having
occupied Washington and burnt many public buildings, including the White House. Almost two centuries on, the City of Alexandria has issued a tongue-in-cheek challenge to regain some honour from the event. The challenge will take the form of a cricket match, a yacht race on the Potomac and a tug of war. Cdr John ‘Ned’ Kelly, Assistant Naval Attaché at the British Embassy, received the challenge on behalf of the Defence Staff in Washington DC. The competitions will take place at the end of August as the City of Alexandria commemorates the occupation by the Royal Navy during the War of 1812.
troops to teachers Initial Teacher Training
TAKE IT WITH YOU
TROOPS TO TEACHERS NON-GRADUATE PROGRAMME
Thinking of becoming a teacher? Training to be a teacher. It’s a surprisingly logical career move from the services. Think about it. Influencing, inspiring, motivating the next generation. It’s one of the most rewarding ways to take the skills you’ve gained in the armed services - and make them work for you.
Department for Education
for all the information, visit
https://troopstoteachers.ctp.org.uk FEBRUARY 2014 : 21