"Phenomenal" HMS Prince of Wales crew reunited with families in Portsmouth for Christmas after "incredible" op
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“Incredible” Royal Navy sailors aboard HMS Prince of Wales were given a spectacular welcome home after completing a huge Indo-Pacific deployment.
Emotional families waved and cheered as the country’s flagship sailed alongside HMNB Portsmouth at roughly 1.30pm today (November 30). Tears were shed as people were reunited with their loved ones in time for Christmas.
Brightly coloured costumes, sentimental banners and glorious flags greeted the personnel as they stood on the flight deck waving to the spectators. A ceremonial gun salute and a flypast marked what is thought to be the biggest Royal Navy homecoming in 20 years.
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Commodore James Blackmore, Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), said he couldn’t be prouder of all the personnel who served on Operation Highmast. He told The News: “They delivered something phenomenal and historic. It was an amazing deployment and everyone has done brilliantly.
“Declaring Full Operational Capability was the headmark, and the we’ve shown our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. To watch the personnel grow in stature and professionalism has been phenomenal across all the ships, squadrons, and embarked forces.”
Hundreds if not thousands of people lined The Hot Walls and packed The Round Tower in Old Portsmouth to watch the aircraft carrier arrive. Unperturbed by the chilly weather, many took their spots several hours before her arrival. Spectators spanned across the naval base jetty, waiting with baited breath for the crew to step ashore. Sailors rushed ashore and embraced their loves ones in heart-warming displays of affection.
Leading Hand Joseph Mellor was named Leading Seaman of the Year aboard the flagship and, was the first sailor to step ashore. He said seeing the crowds and being on the deployment were fantastic and emotional experiences he’ll remember forever.
“To do what we’ve done is spectacular,” he added. “I don’t think I’ve fully realised the moment yet, but I’ll soon understand how brilliant it is. Everyone has achieved so much. To be recognised for your work and represent everyone else is a massive thing I can’t describe.
“I work hard and don’t realise what others think. You’re just getting on with day to day business and you don’t think it’s overly special, but everyone else appreciates it. I’m delighted and humbled by the award, and it’s going to be a special Christmas.”
LH Mellor’s family travelled from across the UK to see him. Before he stepped ashore, his mum Karen said: “We’re all excited and elated to see him. We’ve missed him so much. I’ll probably shed a tear.
“He deserves the award as he always gives 100 per cent. He’s never looked back since joining the Navy. He’s confident and made good friends, everything positive.”
HMS Prince of Wales left Portsmouth on April 22 to undertake Operation Highmast. The group traversed more than 40,000 nautical miles, conducting extensive military drills in Australia, Japan, India, and elsewhere. Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless and Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen, both integral to UKCSG ops, also arrived at the base to similar fanfare. Today’s Royal Navy is thought to be the largest in 20 years.
Operation Highmast was Able Seaman Louis Bondsfield’s first deployment. The 21-year-old Swanmore sailor said: “It’s absolutely incredible seeing my family. The deployment was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There are places I never would have visited if I was a civilian. Japan was incredible. We’ve learnt so much about communication and leadership.”
His mum Emma originally spoke to The News before the UKCSG embarked earlier this year. Seeing her son return home was a magical moment. “You can’t imagine what it’s going to be like, but it was brilliant the minute I saw him,” she added.
“Eight months is interminable. We’ve had family celebrations which he’s missed. He turned 21 at sea. This is the best birthday and Christmas present that I could have ever hoped for.”
AB1 WS Bondsfield served alongside Lieutenant Ben Cameron, who has known him since he was two-years-old. The 22-year-old, of Bishop’s Waltham, said: “I saw everyone packing the jetty and my family were standing on The Round Tower waving us in. The amount of people that came out to support us is incredible.
“Going to that side of the world for the first time in my career was awesome. It was funny serving with Louis. We grew up together and bumped into him onboard thinking ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you here’.
“Walking off the gangway with him was incredible. It was a sensory overload being in all those places, and working with a taskforce while sailing through the Red Sea where possible missiles could be fired at us was a learning curve.”
The Harvey family, of Lee-on-the-Solent, were waiting for Petty Officer Naomi Harvey to return. Stuart said Naomi being away was tough on her sons, but they were very stoic and resilient. He added: “She’s had a wail of a time and got some great sea-time. She works very hard and has picked up a Captain’s commendation. We’re immensely proud of her.
“Her knowledge base is hugely broad. She won’t sit still, so if she sees something, she goes after it. It’s going to be emotional when she gets ashore. I don’t think there are going to be many dry eyes, This is the homecoming the crew deserves.”
Kim Cook, mum of marine engineer Sam Cook, 36, of Southampton, waited patiently alongside Sam’s children. “We’re so excited and overwhelmed and I can’t believe we’re going to see him again,” she added. “The children are ecstatic. They’ve been awake all night and have been counting down. It’s going to be so heart-warming to se him. He’s found his feet in the Royal Navy, and this is his future now. He’s got a lot more tattoos, and is a wonderful father.”
Sam’s daughter Alice, 10, who made a banner to show her dad, said: “I worked very hard on the banner and I’m so ecstatic to see dad. We’re going to see the second Wicked film. I miss him a lot. It’s very magical for him to be back for Christmas.”
Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships RFA Tideforce, and RFA Tidespring, were part of the UKCSG. Overall, British personnel worked alongside armed forces from ten different nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the USA. Aviators conducted several exercises with lightning fast F-35B fighter jets, as well as Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.
Large scale naval drills included Exercise Talisman Sabre off the coast of Australia, alongside the American aircraft carrier USS George Washington, Exercise Konkan with the Indian carrier INS Vikrant, drills with the Japan’s Kaga Battle Group, and Exercise Neptune Strike with Italian forces headed by ITS Cavour, among others.
Several diplomatic engagements also took place, including the Pacific Future Forum in Japan. A large £350m missile deal was signed with India to supply its armed forces with munitions, following a visit by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
It was not always smooth sailing for the UKCSG. They had to traverse the Red Sea after the Royal Navy was previously attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Sailors had to uphold sanctions against North Korea by conducting patrols in the Pacific.
In the South China Sea, personnel were harassed by Chinese forces who were conducting dummy attacks and “constructive kill” drills. Unperturbed by these actions, HMS Prince of Wales and the carrier group soldiered on to protect freedom of navigation in the region, supporting international law. After achieving so much and gaining memories which will last a lifetime, the carrier will now be alongside Portsmouth for the festive period.
Cdre Blackmore added: “We trained hard when we left Portsmouth because we knew we had to. We were going into the Red Sea and had to be ready for combat operations. To watch that team grow in stature and professionalism has been phenomenal across all the ships, squadrons, and embarked forces.”