Tag: Ministry of Defence

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 March 2023.

Military veterans taking part in an archaeological excavation on Salisbury Plain Training Area explained their work to Defence Minister Dr Andrew Murrison MP as he visited the dig site.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 29 March 2023.

The UK and Swedish defence ministers signed a letter of intent relating to a new contract to deliver 14 Archer self-propelled guns.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 March 2023.

Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force bolster security in Estonia as part of NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.

Royal Navy ship HMS Mersey has been deployed to the Baltic Sea for the last week, operating with the Estonian Navy and Royal Air Force in support of the nations’ security as Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partners. This follows Mersey’s recent engagements with Swedish and Finnish Navies.

The British Army and Royal Air Force have also been operating in Estonia, supporting regional security as part of NATO. Estonia is a valued and strategically important defence partner for the UK and working together to respond to shared challenges provides an important boost for European security.

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft have been conducting NATO air policing patrols alongside the German Air Force from Ämari Air Base, near Tallinn. Earlier this year, three Chinooks from 18(B) Squadron from RAF Odiham and approximately 100 RAF personnel deployed to Estonia following an agreement by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in November 2022 to help bolster defence and security across the Baltic states.

The deployments by the Navy and RAF complement the British Army’s operation in Tapa, leading the NATO enhanced Forward Presence, called Operation Cabrit. Established in 2017, the UK leads a multinational, combat-ready battlegroup to protect and reaffirm the security of the alliance’s member states. British units rotate on a continuous basis alongside Danish, French, and host nation Estonian forces. Around 1,000 British Army personnel are deployed to Estonia on Operation Cabrit.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

The deployment of all three services to Estonia demonstrates the strength of our relationship, exercising and operating alongside allies and partners in support of regional stability in the face of Russian aggression.

The UK and Estonia are Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partners – a multinational force made up of like-minded, northern European nations – the UK, together with Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The deployment of HMS Mersey, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, reaffirms the UK’s capability and commitment to the JEF which is committed to European security with the Baltic region as one of its focus areas.

Portsmouth-based HMS Mersey has been working with the RAF Typhoons and long-range maritime patrol aircraft during its deployment. The RAF dispatched a P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to waters off Estonia in a long-range mission – a round trip from its base at RAF Lossiemouth of more than 2,000 miles, The aircraft worked with HMS Mersey to compile a complete picture of maritime activity in the region.

HMS Mersey’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander James Mitchell said:

The capabilities that Poseidon brings are impressive, especially on a foggy day like today when we struggle to identify shipping contacts,” said

Operating together we were able to generate a recognised maritime picture of activity across the Baltic Sea region. It’s another demonstration of our ability to integrate and operate alongside partners and allies both under the JEF framework and as part of the NATO alliance.

Colonel Dai Bevan, Commanding Officer of Operation Cabrit, said:

We recognise the importance of the UK and Alliance presence in the Baltic region to bolster security.

Since 2017, the British Army has led the enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia and welcomes the additional capabilities from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and JEF partners to help ensure the security of Eastern Europe.

Wing Commander Ben Livesey, the Officer Commanding CXX Sqn and who flew on the sortie said:

This was an excellent example of what the Poseidon can do… reassuring our Allies and cooperating closely with our Royal Navy colleagues at range.

The ability to project our RAF Maritime Patrol capability into different areas like this allows us to better understand the battlespace, both above and below the waves, and this ability continues to grow as Poseidon builds towards Full Operational Capability.  Despite the poor weather, we were able to achieve our mission objectives whilst conducting valuable training, which prepares us better for future challenges, whatever those may be.

Estonian patrol vessel Kindral Kurvits joined HMS Mersey for three days of combined exercises off the coast of Tallin, and the Head of the Estonian Navy Commodore Yüri Saska embarked on the Royal Navy ship for a day to observe the activity.

For the final exercise during which snow limited visibility to half a mile at times, the Kurvits searched the Gulf of Finland for ‘hostile’ shipping – played by HMS Mersey – which simulated a ship refusing demands to comply during the exercise, prompting the Estonians to call in the RAF, deployed to the country as part of a NATO air policing mission. A jet from IX (Bomber) Squadron, 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, based at Ämari Air Base responded, making repeated low-level passes of the Royal Navy vessel in a show of force.

Lieutenant John Hawke HMS Mersey’s gunnery officer said:

There is a lot we can learn from the Baltic navies – they have different skillsets from us and they operate in a very different geo-political sphere.

Wing Commander Scott MacColl, the Commanding Officer of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing said:

“This was an excellent opportunity for the UK and 140 EAW to demonstrate the flexibility and agility we can bring from a deployed location in Estonia. From an Air Policing posture, the team were able to seamlessly transition into a maritime role, reinforcing our excellent working relationship with Royal Navy units and other RAF capabilities. This versatility is key to interoperability with a wide range of Allies and Partners, and enhancing broader Baltic Security.”

The Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force activities in the Baltic are part of the UK contribution to the NATO and the Alliance’s collective work to ensure security and stability in the region.

Having completed her work in Estonia, HMS Mersey will remain in the Baltic for further exercises with regional navies before returning to the UK in April.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 28 March 2023.

John Lewis becomes the 10,000th signatory for the Armed Forces Covenant – Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families attends latest signing at HQ.

More than 10,000 organisations have committed to improving the lives of service people and their families, with John Lewis becoming the latest signatory to mark this major milestone.

The retailer is the latest in a long line of large and small organisations to confirm their pledge to our serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans, demonstrating a commitment to work with and for our personnel.

Since 2011, when the concept was enshrined into law, the Covenant reinforced the moral obligation between nation, government and Armed Forces which has since seen UK organisations of all sizes commit to treating our Armed Forces Personnel, and their families, fairly.

In addition to fostering commitments to the Covenant, the government has committed millions of pounds in funding to ensure veterans’ mental health, accommodation, and childcare, among other issues, is well catered for and funded.

Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison said:

Today we welcome John Lewis as the 10,000th signing to the Armed Forces Covenant. The brave men and women of our Armed Forces sacrifice much in the service of their country, so it is only right we ensure that they and their families are supported.

That is why the Covenant is so important, and by working alongside all the partners and organisations that have signed so far, we can ensure that the UK’s promise to them is upheld.

Ben Farrell, Director of Operations Planning and Delivery at the John Lewis Partnership, said:

We’re incredibly proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, particularly at such a landmark moment as we become the 10,000th signatory.

The Partnership has a strong heritage of supporting the armed forces and as a Purpose-driven business that prides itself on inclusiveness, we are committed to ensuring we provide an opportunity to people from all kinds of backgrounds, including those with links to the military.

Chief of Defence People, Vice Admiral Phil Hally said:

I’m proud to see our nation has met this historic milestone. The 10,000 organisations which have pledged support to our Armed Forces community span multiple sectors of our society from education, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, transport, retail and financial services and many more in between. I encourage every business and charity to consider joining them. Together, we can better protect those who protect us, by ensuring fair treatment for all who serve in the Armed Forces and their families.

The government is committed to support the Armed Forces community by working with a range of partners who have signed the Covenant, with the Covenant involving stakeholders nationally. This includes businesses, local authorities, charities, and the public.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 27 March 2023.

Ukrainian tank crews have completed training on Challenger 2 tanks in the UK and have returned home to continue their fight against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.

The training began shortly after the announcement in January that the UK would donate 14 Challenger 2 tanks and accompanying ammunition and spare parts to aid Ukraine. UK military trainers spent several weeks training Ukrainian personnel how to operate and fight with the tanks. Instruction included how to command, drive and work together as a Challenger 2 tank crew and effectively identify and engage targets.

The Challenger 2 tank marks a step change in capability for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ensuring they are better able to protect their crews and offering them some of the most modern and sophisticated gunnery systems in the world.

To mark the conclusion of training Ukrainian Challenger 2 crews, the Ministry of Defence has today released a 30 minute documentary on YouTube. The documentary shows an unprecedented behind the scenes look at the training.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 March 2023.

70 aircraft flown by six nations have taken part in the UK’s biggest aerial training exercise lasting three weeks.

Pilots from five nations have joined the Royal Air Force for the UK’s biggest aerial training exercise this week, which boosts interoperability and helps to develop joint tactics in the air.

Exercise Cobra Warrior sees 70 aircraft training together in high intensity, large force, simulated complex tactical air warfighting operations for three weeks during March.

Pilots from the Finnish, Indian and Royal Saudi Air Forces are taking part this year for the first time. The Belgian and US Air Force are returning having joined previous Cobra Warrior exercises.

The Indian Air Force have deployed five Mirage 2000 aircraft to RAF Waddington. The Royal Saudi Air Force are operating six Typhoons from RAF Coningsby.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon James Heappey MP, said:

Cobra Warrior is a fantastic opportunity for British pilots to exercise with our international partners, learning from each other and rehearsing operating together, as I’m sure our air forces will do many times over the coming decades.

Six F-16s of the Belgian Air Force and six F-18s from the Finnish Air Force are operating from RAF Waddington. Finland’s participation is part of a wider training activity in support of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) exercises.

The three week exercise brings together the capabilities of all nations involved and delivers the full spectrum of air operations, including defensive and offensive counter-air and strike operations. This includes RAF Regiment Precision Strike Teams, Air Manoeuvre operations to support ground forces, and developing our Joint Personnel Recovery Capability.

Squadron Leader Mcfadden, Commanding Officer of 92 Squadron, said:

Exercise Cobra Warrior is a challenging Air-led multi-domain exercise, focused on pitting our NATO, Joint Expeditionary Force and International Partners against a capable peer adversary within a challenging and complex environment.

It has been a pleasure to host pilots from so many different nations to fly alongside UK pilots and train together in joint-tactics and interoperability.

The fast jets taking part in the exercise are supported by RAF Voyager aircraft conducting air-to-air refuelling operations, flying from RAF Brize Norton. UK Joint Helicopter Command aircraft are also participating from RAF Leeming.

The RAF’s Air Mobility Force are also taking part in the exercise, with sorties including deploying elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade during an associated ground mission, that forms part of the overall exercise scenario.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 24 March 2023.

The graves of Lieutenant (Lt) Harold Rymer Smith and Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) Wilfred John Massey Lynch, who were killed on the Western Front in the spring of 1918, have finally been marked with headstones which now bear their name more than a hundred years after they died.

The services, which were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Ecoust Military Cemetery near Arras and at Crucifix Corner Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux, France yesterday (23 March 2023).

Rosie Barron, JCCC case lead said:

It has been a privilege to have contributed to the identification of these two Officers and to have organised these rededication services. Had the German Spring Offensive of 1918, in which they fell, been successful then the outcome of the First World War could have been very different. It is thanks to men such as Lt Smith and 2nd Lt Massey Lynch, who paid the ultimate sacrifice during such fierce fighting, that the Allies were able to stem the German advance and bring the war to a conclusion later that year.

The graves of both men were identified after researchers provided the CWGC with evidence suggesting they had been found. Further research conducted by the National Army Museum and JCCC confirmed their findings.

Lt Smith and 2ndLt Massey Lynch were killed at the beginning and end respectively of Operation Michael which lasted from 21 March to 5 April 1918. Operation Michael was the first of three phases of the German Spring Offensive or Kaiserschlacht, which did not conclude until July 1918.

In 1917 Russia had surrendered, releasing German troops from the Eastern Front, and the Americans had joined the war on the Allied side. The aim of the Spring Offensive was to use the advantage of Germany’s newly released troops to force a victory in the west before the Americans could deploy their forces in strength. The offensive was initially successful and the Germans retook most of the ground that they had lost in the fighting of previous years. However, the attack overstretched their resources and eventually faultered.

Lt Harold Rymer Smith

Lt Smith, from Barnet, Middlesex, was 23 years old when he died of wounds on 21 March 1918, the first day of Operation Michael. On 19 March 1918, 2/6th Battalion The North Staffordshire, to which Lt Smith belonged, moved into the Bullecourt Sector and took up positions in support around Ecoust-Saint-Mein. Two days later the Germans attacked in force making three attacks on Ecoust-Saint-Mein that day. British forces were eventually overwhelmed.

Lt Smith was wounded in the back by a shell and taken to the Regimental Aid Post (RAP) on the north western edge of the village near the Croisilles to Ecoust Road. As casualties mounted, the RAP, the tunnel under the embankment and Battalion Headquarters were filled with wounded in the space of a few minutes. Captain G Adams later reported that Lt Smith had been lying on the stretcher next to him and that he had died. Having captured Ecoust-Saint-Mein the Germans set about clearing the village and created a mass grave close to the location of the RAP. Lt Smith was buried there, and his death and burial were reported through the Red Cross.

In September 1920 the mass grave was exhumed, and the soldiers buried there were moved into Plot II, Row B in Ecoust Military Cemetery. As he was missing Lt Smith was commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He is now known to be buried in Ecoust Military Cemetery alongside other men of 2/6th Battalion The North Staffordshire Regiment killed that day.

The service was attended by members of Lt Smith’s family who gave an emotional tribute to him and his brother, 2ndLt Ralph Pritchard Smith, who was also killed during the Great War.

Sarah Rockliff, the great niece of Lt Smith, said:

We are deeply grateful to all those who helped find our Great Uncle Harold Rymer Smith. This has been profound for our family. Choosing the wording on the headstone and attending the service of rededication allows us to do what Harold’s parents and siblings never could. This brings peace in our hearts to the family past, present and future.

2ndLt Wilfred John Massey Lynch

25 year old 2ndLt Massey Lynch, from West Derby, Liverpool, was killed on 4 April 1918 in the latter stages of Operation Michael. The Germans attacked with the aim of forcing the British Fourth Army back towards Amiens and the First French Army away from its ally. Seizing this ground would allow the Germans to move heavy howitzers in range of Amiens, where vital railway junctions were key to the resupply of Allied forces. The final aim of the German plan was to take the city itself.

At 07:00hrs 3rd Dragoon Guards, to which 2ndLt Massey Lynch was attached, were sent to operate on the right flank of 43rd Brigade north of the Villers-Bretonneux to Warfusee Road as the 14th Division was being forced back. At 09:15hrs they carried out reconnaissance and filled in any gaps they found in the line. A new line was dug, and the situation stabilised. They remained around this location throughout the day as the enemy attacked. It was during this fighting that 2ndLt Massey Lynch lost his life. The German attack ultimately failed to take the ground needed to launch their attack on Amiens and Operation Michael came to a close the following day with the strategic city still in Allied hands.

After the war 2nd Lt Massey Lynch’s body was recovered and he was buried as an unknown Officer of 3rd Dragoon Guards in Crucifix Corner Cemetery, in Villers- Bretonneux. Because he was missing, he was commemorated on the Pozières Memorial to the missing.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 March 2023.

The grave of First World War soldier, Serjeant (Sjt) William Clay Cubberley, aged 28, of 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment, has finally been marked more than a century after his death.

The rededication service, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Perth Cemetery (China Wall), near Ypres, Belgium today (22 March ‘23).

Sjt Cubberley’s then unidentified remains were buried in 2017, and among those in attendance was Rosie Barron, a JCCC caseworker at her first JCCC service. Rosie, disappointed the remains had not been given a name, spent some of the intervening five year period investigating the case.

Rosie said:

“After a conversation with Belgian archaeologist, Simon Verdegem, in 2021, I began to reinvestigate the case from scratch. Simon was able to give me more detail about the location where the soldier was found. This was crucial to the identification. We are now very pleased to have given Sjt Cubberley his name back, a regular soldier whose family had devoted their lives to service in The Worcestershire Regiment. His story is now complete, and it has been a privilege to organise this rededication service and to remember Sjt Cubberley today.”

In 2012 the remains of a soldier were found during the laying of a pipeline near Waterstraat. He bore the buttons and shoulder title of The Worcestershire Regiment, and a crown indicating he may have been a serjeant major. However, after unsuccessful DNA testing, the casualty was buried as an unknown soldier of The Worcestershire Regiment on 6 September 2017.

Then, during the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricted JCCC’s ability to deliver services abroad, the team reviewed ‘cold cases’ where DNA had been taken but no match found.

It was then that Rosie Barron, confirmed that 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment was at the location where the unknown remains were found between 24 and 28 September 1917. Although there were no missing serjeant majors of the battalion killed during that period, there were three missing serjeants. The families of all three men were asked to share DNA, and John Cubberley, the great nephew of Sjt Cubberley, proved to be a match.

John Cubberley said:

“It fills me with great pride that I have the name Cubberley and I will always be eternally grateful for that. Words cannot express my gratitude to JCCC who have gone beyond the call of duty on my family’s behalf leading to the identification of Serjeant Cubberley’s grave. My Grandfather I am sure is more at peace knowing his brother has been found. My thanks to the MOD for continuing to find our lost family members who went to ‘fight the good fight, who kept the faith and finished the race’ and to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”

The service was conducted by the Reverend Daniel Njuguna CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment and was attended by serving and retired members of The Mercian Regiment.

The Reverend Njuguna said:

“Today marks a milestone in the story of the life of Sjt William Clay Cubberley. His final resting place shall no longer be unknown; thanks for the dedication of JCCC and all those involved. What a privilege to be here to witness, recognise and express on behalf of many our gratitude for the service and sacrifice of Sjt Cubberley.”

Initially serving with 1st Battalion, Sjt Cubberley transferred to 2nd Battalion during the First World War. It is believed that although Sjt Cubberley is not recorded as having been promoted to Company Serjeant Major, he may have been promoted in the field and died before any record of this was made.

On 24 September 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres had already been raging for nearly two months. 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment took over the line near Veldhoek in preparation for an attack to be made on 26 September. The following day they were heavily shelled, and the Germans attacked. The attack was successfully repulsed in the section of the line held by 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment. At 05:30hrs on 26 September, the day of Sjt Cubberley’s death, the Germans redoubled their bombardment making several direct hits of the roof of Battalion HQ in Inverness Copse. The battalion War Diaries record that ‘To carry on in the open under such a fire was impossible. The whole ground was churned up, even the bodies of the killed soon disappeared.’ The shelling made evacuation of the wounded impossible and for 24 hours stretcher bearers were unable to evacuate the wounded.

At the last hour the plans for the attack were changed and owing to their heavy losses, 2nd Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment provided only supporting fire for the attack. They were relieved on the night of 27 to 28 September 1917. Around 55 men of the battalion lost their lives during their time in the line. Of these 48 men are still missing and are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

CWGC said:

Director General of the CWGC, Claire Horton, said: “We are immensely grateful to the War Detectives and to Mr Verdegem, and to all those who have worked with us, in identifying Sjt Cubberley’s final resting place at Perth Cemetery (China Wall), more than a century after his death. We can now mark this brave man’s grave with a headstone bearing his name. This service of re-dedication gives us an opportunity to renew our commitment to care for his grave and those of his comrades, forever.”

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 22 March 2023.

Further funding programmes will open from April 2023.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 21 March 2023.

The Sanctuary Awards have today recognised outstanding sustainability and conservation efforts across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) over the past year.

• Innovative and forward-thinking solutions recognised at Sanctuary Awards.
• Baroness Goldie presents this year’s Silver Otter to Captain Nigel Williams RAMC.
• More than 30 years of awards recognising the MOD’s commitment to sustainability.

Celebrated for more 30 years, the Sanctuary Awards – sponsored by the Climate Change & Sustainability Directorate and hosted by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) – recognise the projects that are benefitting sustainable development and helping to conserve the environment, natural resources and heritage across Defence’s UK and overseas estates.

This year’s winners include a number of ground-breaking initiatives across Defence supporting the MOD’s future sustainability, with the Sustainable Business Award won by The Queen Elizabeth Class Logistics Centre Project at HMNB Portsmouth – a fully net zero facility in its operation.

The facility is a dedicated Forward Logistics Centre adjacent to the carrier berths at HM Naval Base Portsmouth which introduced several carbon reductions projects across the site, including photovoltaic panels, low energy lighting, highly efficient thermal cladding and the use of battery powered forklift and stores handling machines.

Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie said:

Defence procurement and the Defence Estate offer significant opportunities to support net zero and biodiversity. We remain focused on embedding a culture of sustainability while meeting essential Defence outputs and we are proud of the innovative ideas being generated to drive change.

I send my congratulations to all the winners and nominees of this year’s Sanctuary Awards.

Presented by Baroness Goldie, this year’s prestigious Silver Otter trophy was awarded to Captain Nigel Williams RAMC. This award recognises the best conservation group-led project or individual conservation effort on the MOD estate.

Awarded due to Williams’ attitude and commitment to being innovative and creative in searching for new ideas and improvements, the trophy also recognises the prioritisation of safety and environmental protection processes, as well as the implementation of new procedures that have been shared as “Best Practice” and been at the forefront of driving cultural change around sustainability in Defence.

Richard Brooks, DIO Principal Environmental Support and Compliance said:

DIO is proud to host the Sanctuary Awards to celebrate the positive work taking place throughout Defence on climate change and sustainability initiatives.

DIO takes this work incredibly seriously and we are pleased to continue to contribute to the wider Defence and government sustainability targets. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your contribution to making Defence greener.

The coveted Net Zero and Resource Efficiency Award was this year given to Project Prometheus, which has constructed the British Army’s first solar farm at the Defence School of Transport (DST) at Leconfield.

The solar farm was the first of four pilot farms across the Army estate, with the project aiming to decarbonise the estate, better understand solar farm construction, and generate long term cost savings for the Army.

Set to save approximately £308,000 in its first year alone, the project will save around 400 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first year – equivalent to removing 250 petrol cars from the road – and will provide at least 30% of DST Leconfield’s electricity needs.

Julia Powell, Deputy Director for the Climate Change and Sustainability Directorate and Chair of the Sanctuary Magazine Editorial Board said:

I am once again inspired by the accomplishments and commitment of this year’s awards winners.

Tackling the impact of climate change and embedding sustainability will be a challenge, but the passion and innovation in evidence shows defence’s full commitment to finding solutions.

Defence continues to prioritise sustainability and conservation and is committed to maintaining the capability of our world-leading Armed Forces whilst working to meet the government’s Net Zero policies.

Background

• To browse the full list of Sanctuary Award winners 2022 and to see details about their individual projects visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sanctuary