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Top: Mum Lisa and son Leon join Lieuteant Mark Wilton onboard HMS Enterprise; Middle left: Members of HMS Enterprise Ship’s Company talking to family members about their life onboard; Middle right: Ship’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander Mark Varjan, and MOD Consultant, Mr T Foster, prepare to race HMS Enterprise down to Falmouth to raise funds for muscular dystrophy; Bottom: Commander Derek Rae, Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise, welcomes family members and friends of the crew onboard [Pictures: Leading Airman (Photographer) Dean Nixon, Crown copyright]

After 9 months away from home on operations, Royal Navy sailors from HMS Enterprise recently thanked their families and friends for their support with a rare treat - by taking them to sea.

At the same time, the ship was raced by bike on land by the Executive Officer (second-in-command), Lieutenant Commander Mark Vartan, to raise money for the ship’s adopted charity, muscular dystrophy. As Enterprise arrived in Falmouth, the first thing crew and families saw was the victorious cyclist - having narrowly won the race, he was happy to collect his sponsorship dues.

The coastal trip gave the special guests an insight into the crew’s living and working routine and quarters on the survey ship.

Linda, mother of Sub Lieutenant Stuart Bond: “It’s a privilege to be allowed to sail on a Royal Navy warship and witness what my son and the crew of Enterprise do whilst they are deployed.”

The families enjoyed a fire-fighting exercise and other demonstrations of the ship’s ability to cope with emergencies, a weapons display, showing the ship’s arsenal to fend off pirate attacks and a man overboard exercise to prove sailors can be can be rescued. A fly-past from a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose was the highlight of the day.

Seven-year-old Hannah, daughter of Petty Officer John-Paul Priestley: “I’ve had a brilliant day seeing what daddy does. It’s been very exciting and more fun than being at school!”

The ship will now undergo its 5-yearly docking and maintenance period.

Top: Fusilier Barry Allan leads at 2 SCOTS attack Winning team captain; Middle left: Lance Corporal Colin McHugh defends the 1 SCOTS goal; Middle right: 2 SCOTS won the first game 3-1 against their fellow battalion 1 SCOTS and Bottom: Lance Corporal Mark Watson lifts the trophy for 2 SCOTS after their 3-1 win [Pictures: Mark Owens, Crown copyright]

Soldiers from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) hosted an Army football match to mark the opening of a new sports facility near their barracks in Penicuik last week.

The first game was a football match between 1 SCOTS and 2 SCOTS soldiers to honour Captain Walter Barrie who was tragically killed during a football match which he had organised between the Afghan National Army and 1 SCOTS in November 2012.

Captain Walter Barrie had served in both battalions throughout his Army career and was an avid football player. The winners were presented with ‘The Walter Barrie Memorial Trophy’ which was donated by Walter Barrie’s wife Sonia and son Callum.

The new pitch named ‘Fusilier Field’ is the brain child of Quartermaster Major Alan Grant of 2 SCOTS.

Major Grant: “The pitch is the result of more than a year’s hard work. When I took over the job as Quartermaster there was a lack of sports facilities available to the ‘Jocks’. 

“I fought hard for this facility, there were a number of set backs but I never accepted no for an answer. I’m sure the remainder of the battalion will be delighted when they return from Afghanistan - the area that is now the sports field was rubble, now it is an all singing all dancing Astro Turf pitch.

“I am really proud of what has been achieved here.

“I would also like to thank 51 (Scottish) Brigade based in Stirling for all their hard work and support in helping the project get underway. They have been instrumental in helping and without whom we would not have this pitch today.”

This annual match will be a fitting memorial to Walter Barrie, whose love and passion for football was well known.

The sports pitch was officially opened by Mr John Rennie, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Scotland) - who were responsible for the construction of the facility, and Lieutenant Colonel Natasha Nash, representing 1 Mechanical Brigade who 2 SCOTS are attached to in Afghanistan.

Armed Forces mark Her Majesty’s birthday

Military precision, colour and pageantry marked The Queen’s birthday in London on Saturday 15 June, both on the ground and in the skies above.

The pomp and splendour of the Household Division’s centuries-old Trooping of the Colour ceremony and a 41-gun Royal Salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery were followed by a birthday flypast by some of the RAF’s most iconic aircraft from the past and present.

Read more:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-mark-her-majestys-birthday

Hot competition in the field kitchen

It may be a cold and windy June but Royal Navy and Royal Marine chefs have been feeling the heat today as they battled it out in a field kitchen cook-off at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth.

The 8 three-man teams were tasked with producing 2 main meals and two desserts for 20 hungry personnel from a ten man ration pack and a small selection of fresh produce.

Using the limited equipment that would be available to them in the field they had 3 hours from start to finish to come up with something that was creative, tasty and well-presented.

The top 4 teams of Commando Logistic Regiment, 45 Commando and two teams from 30 Cdo – are be put forward to the annual tri-Service cookery competition, Exercise Joint Caterer, at the end of September where they will represent the Naval Service.

Warrant Officer 2 Nevill Kay, Royal Marines Catering Officer, said:

“It is all about teamwork and working together. They are constantly trying to raise their skills and the idea is to get the team bonding while in a competitive environment and using limited rations and equipment.

“They can do this type of cooking at any time anywhere in the world from the heat in Afghanistan to the cold of Norway. They do have to think creatively while also ensuring that they provide the nutritional content necessary to keep these guys gong in the field.

“It is a very skilful job – these field ovens have four temperature settings – cold, warm, hot and very hot so it is all about timing and trying to gauge everything so it is perfectly cooked.”

Competition entries came from Commando Training Centre (CTCRM) in Lympstone, 40 Commando from Taunton, two teams from Plymouth-based 30 Cdo, another from 42 Cdo and Commando Logistic Regiment and finally the two Scotland-based teams of 43 and 45 Cdo.

Although mainly made up of Royal Marine chefs, there are Royal Navy chefs attached to the units who are also expected to maintain the same standard of military duties as their green beret counterparts.

“The menu must be that of an everyday meal acceptable to personnel of any rank and of competition standard,” added WO2 Kay. “Teams have really tried hard to come up with a range of different choices.”

Ranging from chicken curries with fragrant india rice to pizzas made from scratch and presented with salad in takeaway boxes to chocolate covered doughnuts and fishcakes with roasted vegetables – the teams pulled out all the stops to produce prize-winning food. Yet the overall winning team of 30 Commando Group Base, from Plymouth were presented with first prize for their menu of Thai-infused chicken cake with a chilli, lime and coriander crust served with a parcel of aromatic nut fried rice and a hot and sour dip.

Their second choice was a Cajun steaklet stuffed with melted cheese served on a fresh, crusty petit pan with a stack of Cajun farmhouse wedges with a sour cream dip and vinaigrette dressed salad.

Dessert consisted of a chocolate and strawberry gateaux rolled in sweet roasted nuts served with fresh strawberries and chocolate ganache and a pineapple and raspberry tartlet with a roasted ginger crumble topping served with a Crème Anglaise and rippled with raspberry coulis.

30 Cdo Team Captain, Able Seaman Daniel Garlick – a Royal Navy chef – said they were delighted with their win.

“We have been practising that menu for about a month,” he said.

“We knew it would be a really high standard of food here today so we are really pleased that we won – cooking that from a ration pack is really tough. It forces you to think outside the box and really think about the ingredients you have and what you can do with them.”

The best chef was judged to be Chef David Smith of Commando Logistic Regiment who won the title of Best Supporting Chef.

The Military Music Spectacular on Horse Guards Parade on 12 June 2013 [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen, Crown Copyright]

London’s Military Music Spectacular got off to a noisy and memorable start yesterday in the historic setting of Horse Guards Parade, off Whitehall.

Crowds gathered to watch world class musicians from the Army’s Household Division staging a performance of music to suit every taste as well as the complex military ceremonial displays for which they are renowned, along with accompanying fireworks. 

Taking the salute was The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall and the Spectacular which runs for 2 nights will see Her Majesty The Queen attending tonight’s performance from 8pm.