I was lucky enough to spend 2 years on HMS Ark Royal, an aircraft carrier, in the late 80s.  While on deployment in the Mediterranean, we had a 17 year old prospective Medical Assistant join us for 3 weeks.  Hed just finished basic training and had several weeks to wait before his MA course started.  This guy was 17 going on 12, very naive – in the nicest possible…. Continue reading

I am still serving on HMS Yarmouth. We are now acting as guard ship in the West Indies.

So what is a guard ship? Basically the ship’s duties are to patrol the islands and to respond to any requests for help, particularly in disaster areas…. Continue reading

Xmas a time of good cheer and copious quantities of alcohol! Well that’s how ‘Jolly Jack’ does it.

It’s New years eve 1984 – on board HMS Yarmouth on patrol in the South Atlantic. It’s rough weather and the ship is rocking and rolling. No matter! It’s Xmas – down to the mess for a few tinnies…. Continue reading