Honouring today’s heroes
THE Royal Navy’s disasterrelief work in the Philippines has resulted in operational honours for five officers.
The five are among 33 Royal Naval personnel to receive awards for their bravery in support of operations last year. But the highest honour went to Lt Cdr Chris Götke. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for safely landing a 60-yearold Sea Fury T20 – which had suffered an engine failure – at the Culdrose Air Day last summer. Capt Mike Utley was awarded the OBE for his role as Commanding Officer of HMS Illustrious during the humanitarian mission in the Philippines. The ship was returning from the Middle East to the UK for Christmas when it was diverted to help with the relief effort. Capt Utley quickly devised a simple but thorough plan to fully utilise the ship’s aviation and medical capacity. Lt Cdr Steven Wall, second in command of HMS Daring, received the MBE for his work in the Philippines. He led working parties ashore, taking charge of up to 50 people at any one time. He quickly determined the essential needs of ten communities across seven islands, delivering support to more than 10,000 people. Lt Wendy Frame received the MBE for her work as deputy marine engineering officer on board HMS Daring. She repaired vital water wells and rebuilt school buildings, ensuring a small island community of 200 young families had their first access to clean drinking water since the typhoon struck. Cdr Philip Hally, who was Commander Logistics on board Illustrious, received the MBE. He organised the rapid embarkation of 500 tonnes of relief aid in two days. Lt Cdr Graeme Walker – Daring’s Lynx helicopter pilot during the operation – received a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service. During eight days he conducted reconnaissance sorties covering 1,400 miles and transported 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid and moved 247 personnel. Lt Cdr Edwin Cooper, who was 01 Flight Commander for 829 Naval Air Squadron serving onboard HMS Illustrious, also received a QCVS. He led a team of engineers and aircrew
AIR Force Cross recipient Lt Cdr Chris Götke was flying a Sea Fury T20 as part of the Historic Flight display at Culdrose Air Day when the plane began to lose power during his aerobatic display. As 21,000 people watched, the Sea Fury began billowing smoke and started to lose altitude leaving Lt Cdr Götke with the unenviable choice of bailing out or staying with the aircraft. “I was at about 1,800 feet when I put the power on and nothing happened – it was the most horrible shock in the world,” he said. “I pulled up the gear, ROYAL Navy winchman PO Russ Adams was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for rescuing five men aboard a French fishing vessel. Battling mountainous 30ft waves in the pitch black, the crew of the Sea King helicopter also had to fight against 60mph gusts off the Cornish coast. The crew of the vessel – Le Sillon – were ordered to jump into the water one by one so that PO Adams could swim to them and then winch them back up to safety. “It was really difficult to swim in responsible for maintaining and operating the Flight’s Merlin helicopter. The team achieved a remarkable flying record of twice the normal rate for any other recent UK operation and delivered over 103 tonnes of humanitarian aid as well as moving over 500 people during the relief mission. Lt David Starkey, second in command of minehunter HMS Atherstone, also received a QCVS. When a diver suffered difficulties during a joint UK-US
reducing drag and when the aircraft started to fly I decided that I would stay with the aircraft and try and get her down in the best landing possible.” Attempting to land on the runway he got one wheel down while the other locked, resulting in the Sea Fury’s undercarriage collapsing and it veering off the runway. Harmlessly coming to a rest on the grass, the aircraft sustained only minor external damage while Lt Cdr Gotke, who is the CO of the Historic Flight based at RNAS Yeovilton, had no significant injuries.
those conditions,” he said. “The fishermen just had to trust us when we told them to jump into the water – that must have been horrendous for them.” PO Adams saved the first two fisherman, but as he returned for a third, a huge wave crashed over him, fully submerging him. Close to exhaustion, he then inflated his life jacket to remain buoyant and winched the terrified man back to the waiting helicopter. After changing into a fresh life jacket, PO Adams then rescued the two remaining crew members.
exercise in February 2014 – and had to conduct an emergency ascent – Lt Starkey immediately took charge of the incident in a cool and professional manner. A Royal Navy winchman who risked his life repeatedly to save five French fishermen from almost certain death was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. PO Russ Adams rescued five men trapped on a badlydamaged French fishing vessel in the middle of a raging storm off
the coast of Cornwall. Royal Marines Staff Sgt Paul Billingham received the Military Cross. CPO(D) Richard Brown from the Northern Diving Group received the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery, as did Lt Cdr Rob Suckling, from HMS Gannet. RM Cpl Jonathan McKeag received the Queen’s Gallantry Medal. Col Jaimie Roylance was made an OBE for his work in Afghanistan; Maj Tom
HMS Daring’s deputy marine engineering officer, Lt Wendy Frame, pictured above left, was one of the first people to arrive in typhoon-hit Philippines. She helped ensure a small island community had their first access to clean drinking water. As well as damaging wells and destroying homes and schools across the Philippines, many boats were damaged which were the sole source of income and fresh food for the fishing communities. Lt Frame delegated her team to repair some of the vessels. Over nine days Daring and her crew surveyed 42,200 square miles covering more than 70 islands. They treated 300 patients and delivered 21 Ryall was made an MBE for outstanding performance, as was WO1 Sam Doak; LNN Laura Fallon received the Associate of the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class; C/Sgt Ruairi Dwyer was mentioned in despatches. QCVS awards went to Maj Bruce Anderson and Lt Cdr Brad Watson and Lt Paul White, both from 857 NAS. Capt Rob Bellfield, from UKMCC in Bahrain, received a QCVS, as did WO1 Kris Chard, of HMS Shoreham, AB Matthew
tonnes of stores and 7,656 litres of fresh drinking water. Lt Frame, who is due to get married in the summer, said she was delighted to be made an MBE. “I was shocked when they told me,” she said. “I had to read the letter four times before it would sink in. I called my fiancée Adele straight away and then my mum Heather who burst out crying.” Shortly after arrival in the islands, Lt Frame and her team of engineers rebuilt two classrooms that had been completely destroyed on Guintacan. “For me the reactions of the people we met was something I will never forget. It was the best experience I have had in the Navy so far.” Harriss, from UKMCC, CPO Ken Kennedy from HMS Montrose, Lt Aleesha Mitchell from UKMCC, Lt Cdr Matt Kent from UKMCC, Sgt Dean Jones and Lt Col Finlay Walls, for his work in South Sudan. CPO Darren Lennon and Cdr Charles Maynard received a QCVS for their work aboard the USS Harry S Truman. Cdr Dan Clarke, CO of HMS Triumph, was made an OBE, as was Cdr Mike Smith of HMS Somerset.
.... and a hero from yesteryear DAMPENED by the rain which fell on the nation’s capital in abundance, this is the impressive slab honouring a Naval hero – unveiled 100 years to the day of his immortal deed. Today’s sailors and Royal Marines saluted Eric Gascoigne Robinson VC, the latest member of the Senior Service to be recognised with a commemorative paving stone outside the family home – in this case Diamond Terrace in Greenwich. More than 1,300 Victoria Cross winners from the Great War are being so honoured in their native boroughs with ‘Kipper’ Robinson the third sailor to receive Britain’s highest military honour. On the afternoon of February 26 1915, a party of 100 Royal Marines and sailors were sent ashore near Kum Kale in Turkey as part of the opening moves of the Gallipoli campaign. Led by torpedo officer Lt Cdr Robinson, the sailors were to destroy coastal and anti-aircraft batteries. Almost immediately the sailors became pinned down by enemy fire. Robinson told his men to take cover while he went on, alone, evading the fire of snipers, and found the guns unoccupied. Gun cotton charges destroyed two of the weapons, but Robinson scurried 10 : APRIL 015
l The commemorative slab at Diamond Terrace, Greenwich, which honours Eric ‘Kipper’ Robinson, pictured above back down the hill for a second charge to finish off the task while the guns of the battleships brought down an iron rain upon the Turkish positions. From the bridge of Vengeance, it seemed to Capt Bertram Smith that Eric Robinson was in his element “strolling around by himself under heavy fire – like a sparrow enjoying a bath from a garden hose.”
Having dispatched the guns on Achilles Mound, Robinson led his party to Orhanie, blew up a 9.4in gun, then began to return to the picket boats moored at Kum Kale pier. They got as far as the village cemetery – where the Turks offered fierce opposition, using a large domed mausoleum as their nest of resistance. Somehow Robinson got a message back to his ship whose guns
“sent the tomb and fragments of its inmates – both ancient and modern – flying heavenwards.” Robinson would go on to repeatedly demonstrate his fortitude under fire during the bungled campaign, culminating in leading another demolition party to scuttle the submarine E15 which had run aground. That latter mission was worthy of
Britain’s highest award, but it was for the raid on Orkanie that ‘Kipper’ Robinson was awarded the VC, much to the surprise of Cdre Roger Keyes, chief-ofstaff of the Gallipoli operation. “I am honestly lost in admiration for Robinson, he has done splendidly and I honestly am surprised,” he wrote. “I did not think much of him as a First Lieutenant. But that evidently does not prevent him being an exceedingly brave man.” Members of the Robinson family attended the unveiling with dignitaries from Greenwich, and RN personnel, led by Commander Operations Rear Admiral Matt Parr who was in awe of Lt Cdr Robinson’s “selfless actions”. He added: “His courage, determination and fortitude in the face of overwhelming enemy action remain an example to us all; I am delighted that this commemorative stone will serve as a permanent memorial to a remarkable man.” Eric Robinson left the RN in 1933 as a rear admiral but was recalled to service when war broke out, directing Atlantic convoys in the face of the U-boat menace. He retired a second time in 1944 and settled in Petersfield in Hampshire. He died in 1965 aged 83. www.navynews.co.uk