HMS Sultan sailors honour "sacrifice" of comrades

Personnel based at HMS Sultan in Gosport were involved in various services, honouring those who went to war while serving their country and never coming back home. This started with the annual Drumhead ceremony at the base last Friday (November 7).

The short service of remembrance, which uses neatly piled drums as an altar, was held with senior officers, including Commander Fergus Ochtman-Corfe, the Executive Officer of HMS Sultan, among those observing a two-minute silence.

Wreaths were laid by bearers representing HMS Sultan, all civil servants and civilian personnel, and by the youngest air and marine engineering trainees serving within the Base's engineering schools. Other marks of remembrance were also laid at the Falklands Conflict Memorial within the Base.

HMS Sultan then joined all three local services on Sunday (November 9). At Gosport War Memorial Hospital, the Worshipful Mayor of Gosport, Mrs Kirsten Bradley, and Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Admiral Sir Philip Jones GCB DL led the Borough in Remembrance.

Cdr Ochtman-Corfe attended alongside high-ranking military and civilian dignitaries and laid a wreath. HMS Sultan provided the Guard of Honour, led by Parade Commander Warrant Officer 2 John Davies with Guard Officer Lieutenant Reuben Taylor, with the ceremony officiated by Reverend Paul Chamberlain, Chaplain to the Mayor of Gosport. Cadets from HMS Sultan's Royal Naval and Royal Marine Cadet Corps and the Band of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps Gosport also participated in the ceremony.

At the Fleet Air Arm Memorial in Lee-on-the-Solent, Admiral Sir Nigel Richard Essenhigh GCB DL was the Senior Officer present, alongside Rear Admiral Anthony Rimmington. Lieutenant Commander Gemma Radcliffe represented HMS Sultan and laid a wreath. Our marching platoon from Aircraft Engineering Technician Qualifying Course 25/005 and the HMS Sultan Volunteer Band played a central role in the Act of Remembrance, led by Parade Commander Petty Officer James Thomas and officiated by Reverend Mark Dalton Emery RN.

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At the Sunken Garden in Lee-on-the-Solent, the First Lieutenant of HMS Sultan, Lieutenant Commander Neil 'Fez' Parker, represented the establishment and laid a wreath in remembrance.

Speaking after the Drumhead ceremony, Cdr Ochtman-Corfe said: “Remembrance is at the heart of what we do at HMS Sultan. As we train the next generation of Naval engineers and technicians, it is vital that we pause to honour those who gave their lives in service. Their sacrifice reminds us of the solemn responsibility we carry forward in equipping our people with the skills to keep the Royal Navy ready to defend our nation."

Royal Navy sailors played a crucial role at remembrance services across the Portsmouth area, including at the Guildhall commemoration.

Captain Lee McLocklan, Captain of HMNB Portsmouth, said: “It was an honour to be involved in the Remembrance activities here in Portsmouth, and to see so many people from the local community, and further afield, show up to pay their respects to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. These ceremonies give serving personnel and the veterans from our community a chance to come together and remember those who came before us.”

Here are a selection of Royal Navy pictures from the Gosport services.