DISASTER RELIEF: HOW THE ROYAL NAVY TRAIN TO HELP DefenceFocus Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | Ministry of Defence | ISSUE #277 DECEMBER 13/JAN 14 ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL Sun Millies Awards 2013: heroes honoured by royalty COMBATBARBIE NANAVIGATORVIGATOR DISASTER RELIEF: HOW THE ROYAL NAVY TRAIN TO HELP DefenceFocus The award for Most Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force | Ministry of Defence | ISSUE #277 DECEMBER 13/JAN 14 Outstanding Airman was presented to Sergeant Anna Irwin by Prince Charles and the Duchess of ROYAL SEAL Cornwall OF APPROVAL Sun Millies Awards 2013: Image taken by heroes honoured by royalty Darren Fletcher Regulars P12 VERBATIM Jonathan Slater on the Levene review; its impact and how it affects you. Yes you! P28 HEALTH The curse of winter flu; how to avoid it and stay hale and hearty P30 PUZZLES Your monthly brain-teasers in the form of a crossword and sudoku P31 COMPETITIONS Win the smash-hit film Rush on DVD or a two-night break in Torquay Features P6 THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS Images that captured the breadth of SPIRIT BOY TO SOLDIER: work carried out by Defence in 2013 P8 SUN SHINES ON MILITARY WINNERS RIFLEMAN APOWIDA ON THE Meet the courageous Armed Forces ART OF SOLDIERING P26 recipients honoured by The Sun P14 BRITISH MILITARY TOURNAMENT Back at Earls Court were the White Helmets, Field Guns, Marines and camels P18 P18 PREPARING FOR THE WORST Royal Navy disaster relief training for when natures wreaks havoc P20 ROW TO RECOVERY Injured Service personnel are sailing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic P22 GARY BARLOW Popular X Factor judge talks to Defence Focus about his military-themed TV show P24 MY MEDALS P14 RSM Dave Pearce has served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan DECEMBER 2013 - JANUARY 2014 | ISSUE 277 | 3 EDITOR’SNOTE LORRAINE MCBRIDE humbled by the optimism of war widow DefenceFocus Jacqui Thompson whose husband Gary This month, our magazine is guest edited by was Britain’s oldest reservist to die in Lorraine McBride, roving reporter, celeb- Afghanistan. Jacqui and her admirable For everyone in defence stalker and Defence Focus stalwart for family celebrated Gary’s life and fondly Published by the Ministry of Defence almost 13 years. imagined his mock-horror when Level 1 Zone C Exactly 150 issues ago, newspapers wrongly reported that he was MOD, Main Building Whitehall I landed my dream job 52 rather than 51. London SW1A 2HB with Defence Focus. Memorable locations include General enquiries: 020 7218 1320 From the get-go, it was Kosovo, Cyprus, Belgium, Paris, Clyde EDITOR: Fiona Simpson the variety of stories and Buckingham Palace for a scoop with Tel: 020 7218 3949 that had me hooked. Prince Andrew looking back on his naval email: [email protected] One sign of fast- career. A pinch-me moment was walking ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ian Carr changing attitudes was through the Palace, slightly deafened by Tel: 020 7218 2825 our first cover story, the military music, thinking “Blimey, their email: [email protected] “It’s OK to be Gay”, staff are patriotic”, when it dawned that ASSISTANT EDITOR: Leigh Hamilton after the Government lifted the ban on gay the music came from the Queen’s Guard Tel: 020 7218 5988 people serving in the Armed Forces. band playing on the Palace forecourt. email: [email protected] It was a huge privilege to interview It was fascinating to interview 10 ASSISTANT EDITOR: Lorraine McBride Britain’s last survivors of the First former Defence Secretaries, hearing the Tel: 020 721 82341 World War. I visited Harry Patch at his dramas that defined their time in office. email: [email protected] care home. Self-effacing Harry was There’s even been the odd celeb; such as ART EDITOR: Mark Eagle the last survivor from the trenches in Bruce Forsyth (who remarkably served Tel: 020 721 8 3658 email: [email protected] Passchendaele. He recalled a dying in the RAF on D-Day), Leslie Phillips, Cornishman who begged Harry to shoot and Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes and DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT: Shell Daruwala him. But before he could draw his watching the then unknown rower, Tel: 020 7218 1320 email: [email protected] revolver, the soldier gasped one final Heather Stanning, train a year before word, ‘Mother’, and died. That one word taking Olympic gold. Inevitably, after 13 MOD does not endorse any product or service advertised ran though Harry’s brain for 88 years. years, I’ve got itchy feet but I will cherish in Defence Focus, nor does it verify any preferential treatment offered by any advertiser to MOD employees. It was equally impossible not to be my memories of working alongside some Queries on advertisements should be addressed to our blown away by the bravery of modern truly extraordinary people from every advertising agency. troops honoured for gallantry. I was also corner of Defence. It’s been quite a ride. Opinions expressed in Defence Focus do not necessarily represent those of the MOD. Articles on all aspects of MOD and Defence will be considered for publication but we reserve the right to edit contributions. MOD staff contributing to Defence Focus should ensure their writing is suitable for open publication. Advertising Advertising sales are handled by Richard Stillman at Ten Alps Media. Tel: 020 7657 1837 email: [email protected] Distribution The magazine is distributed through major military bases, depots and MOD offices. Produced by Williams Lea Ltd on 100% recycled paper. MOD Helpline 01603 696329. 4 | WWW.GOV.UK/MOD | DECEMBER 2013 - JANUARY 2014 NEW YEAR MESSAGE MEETING THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE THE NATION MARK FRANCOIS, MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE ARMED FORCES REFLECTS ON THE LAST YEAR IN DEFENCE s the year draws to a close, In November, I represented MOD at we can look back over what the Cenotaph and the National Memorial has been another busy year. Arboretum, a humbling experience as A Operations in Afghanistan have the nation came together to remember not only proved busy but also pivotal to those who have gone before us, and achieving our long-term strategy. The those still serving overseas, away from Afghans have continued to take up more home and in harm’s way. and more responsibility; their ability Remembrance also provided the to do so is testament to the hard work opportunity for me to gather together of many thousands of sailors, soldiers, some of those Members of Parliament airmen and Defence civilians. with previous military experience. Many We have paid a high price this year people are surprised when I tell them as in previous years, with, tragically, that some sixty current MPs have served eight Service personnel having made the in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (my own ultimate sacrifice. But the progress we time was spent with the Royal Anglian have made has meant that as we move Regiment, Territorial Army). The picture into 2014 we can continue to step further below was taken when more than thirty back as we prepare for the end of combat of us gathered at the Guard’s Chapel at operations. Of course, challenges Wellington Barracks to remember the The Rt Hon Mark Francois MP, Minister remain, and whilst people will naturally fallen. It was a poignant moment. of State for the Armed Forces focus on the end point, we must bear The pace of service life is a quick Jez Doak Sergeant Picture: in mind that there is still another 12 one, but we have consistently met the months of our combat operation to go. I challenges that have faced the nation For those of you who are deployed, I hope am committed to ensuring we finish our and I hope that all Defence personnel that you have a safe time and you have my mission in good order. reading this can look forward to some utmost respect and thanks for the work While Afghanistan remains time at Christmas with their families. you do. DF Defence’s main effort, it is by no means the only part of the world where the UK Armed Forces made a difference in 2013. The start of the year saw our personnel deployed in Mali, supporting our French allies in preventing that country from being overrun by Al-Qaeda- linked groups. November and December, meanwhile, saw the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force work together to deliver critical aid support to the people of the disaster-struck Philippines and there was much else to keep us busy in between. For me personally, this year has brought many fascinating experiences. I was very proud to see the first Genium prosthetics being fitted to some of our brave servicemen who have lost limbs in Afghanistan. Working alongside charities such as Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion, we have made real progress in the care of those who have given so much and it is right we continue to Veteran MPs remembrance service in the Royal Military Chapel support them through their rehabilitation. Wade PO(Phot) Derek Picture: DECEMBER 2013 - JANUARY 2014 | ISSUE 277 | 5 EDITOR’s choicE 2013 Fire breather: HMS Dragon’s Lynx helicopter fires infrared flares Cut above: award- winning chef Private Lee Berry Picture: Corporal Ross Fernie Ross Corporal Picture: Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen Sergeant Picture: Strong arm: a Royal Marine receives a warm What a buzz: Sergeant Scott Weaver welcome while delivering aid to the Philippines LA(Phot) Nicky Wilson Picture: Picture: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC RLC Rupert Frere Sergeant Picture: launches a Black Hornet Nano UAV Flag day: soldiers recreate the famous ‘Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima’ on Arthur’s FEATUREINTERVIEW Seat in Edinburgh to promote Armed Forces Day Picture: Mark Owens Picture: Picture: