Individual Naval Officers and Ratings

[Pelican]

Obituary:

Cdr Andy Johnson who commanded HMS Onyx, the only RN conventional submarine deployed during the Falklands War.
A patrol of 117 days covering 20,000 miles. Also served as XO of HMS Superb and Swifsure.

See - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/ ... lands-war/

[Pelican]

Unsung teen hero who helped end the Second World War honoured

A teenage cook whose heroics onboard a warship helped shorten the Second World War has been honoured in his home town after a public vote.

The regenerated centre of North Shields, North Tyneside, has been named after Thomas Brown, who was awarded the George Medal for helping to retrieve codebooks from a sinking German U-boat in October 1942.

The books were later used to crack the Enigma code by experts at Bletchley Park, enabling the British to decipher Nazi messages.

Two naval men died while searching the stricken submarine but Thomas, a 15-year-old civilian who lied about his age to work in the canteen on HMS Petard, survived and managed to save the books from the sea.

See - https://www.yahoo.com/news/unsung-teen- ... ccounter=1 - LFT

[Pelican]

Navy Lookout
Sad to report the passing of Cdr Nigel "Sharkey" Ward, DSC, AFC, RN retd.
"Mr Harrier", a supremely talented and aggressive fighter pilot who led 801 Naval Air Squadron during the Falklands War, flying 60+ missions achieving 3 air-air kills.
In later life a strong advocate of carrier air power and a highly controversial and implacable critic of the RAF.

[Pelican]

Sir Humphrey
Sad news. Cdr Ward was a man born to fight the Falklands War. I have endless respect for his achievements and leadership in this conflict.
His later legacy, as someone whose views did not always see the value of joint operations is more controversial, but he will be remembered.
I didn't agree much of what he said re the RAF in later life, but recognise that he gave so much, and also lost those dear and close to him in his final years. Thoughts with his family and I hope he is now in the wardroom of an RN CTOL carrier somewhere in the great beyond.

Dr Phil Weir
Very sad news - retired Royal Navy Commander Nigel "Sharkey" Ward, who famously commanded the Sea Harriers of 801 Naval Air Squadron, flying from HMS Invincible during the 1982 Falklands War, has apparently passed away aged 80.