HMS Daring Visits St Peter Port, Guernsey

HMS Daring Visits St Peter Port, Guernsey

HMS Daring visited St Peter Port, Guernsey, between the 28th September and the 1st October 2012. She anchored in the Little Russell in full view of the picturesque Island.

Guernsey is one of Daring’s principal maritime affiliations and the visit coincided with the HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne memorial weekend which allowed the Ship’s Company to fully support the events ashore and to also re-enforce strong relationship between Daring and the Island.

The memorial weekend serves to remember the two Royal Navy Ships lost during World War 2 at the cost of 464 lives, but also acts to remember the act of defiance against the occupying forces by the Islanders when five thousand of them gathered at the funerals for the perished Royal Navy sailors.

The ship hosted over 400 visitors during a busy programme of events and visits. There were tours of the Ship for 8 local schools including pupils from the Ship’s affiliated school, Elizabeth College.

The Sea Scouts and Sea Cadets from TS Sarnia were also hosted and there were 4 periods of Ship Open to Visitors, held on the Saturday and Sunday, for Islanders who obtained tickets from the local press.

The Commanding Officer, Captain Guy Robinson hosted a lunch for 21 VIPs including the Lieutenant Governor, Air Marshal Peter Walker CBE, Richard Collas, Bailiff of Guernsey and Chief Minister Deputy Peter Harwood.

The Ship’s Company was also able to support numerous events ashore.  A 10-strong platoon, of all ranks and rates, attended the public Guernsey Association of Royal Navy and Royal Marines (GARNRM) Beat the Retreat Ceremony, where they helped raise over half the £750 total for GARNRM, the highest total raised for the association in the last 4 years the event has been held.

Finally a marching platoon of 24 attended the Charybdis memorial service at Le Foulon Cemetery. Lt Edmund Freeman who led the platoon said, “It was a really moving ceremony and it is important that the men and women of the Royal Navy can take opportunities like this to remember those who have fallen”

By way of reciprocation, indicative of the relationship between Daring and Guernsey, The Bailiff and his team kindly hosted 60 of the Ship’s Company for a drinks reception at the Royal Court Building.

Captain Robinson said, “This is a particularly strong affiliation of which I am very proud.  As a former Commanding Officer of the patrol ship HMS Guernsey I have had the privilege of many visits to the island and it is always a real pleasure to return.”

Daring has recently returned from a Middle East Deployment where she travelled 34,642 nautical miles, spending 139 days at sea. Type 45 Destroyers are now routinely sent to the Gulf as part of the longstanding Royal Navy presence in the Middle East.

Daring and her crew were deployed as part of the Combined Maritime Task Forces (CMF) where, with other partner Nations, she conducted tasking ranging from maritime security, counter piracy, capacity building through to the wider maritime security effort dedicated to maintaining stability in the region.

Having returned home and had some well earned leave a visit to Guernsey was high on the list of priorities for the Ship, despite numerous other commitments in preparation for her second deployment next year.

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Naval Today Staff,October 10, 2012; Image: Royal Navy