Welsh Sailors Celebrate Their National Day at HMS ‘Monmouth’

Leeks occasionally make an appearance when cooked up by the talented on-board chefs, and as she approaches the halfway point of her seven-month patrol of the Gulf, the ‘Black Duke’ is looking forward to celebrating her Welsh connections.

There is a small, but patriotic, Welsh contingent onboard who all have their little piece of home with them, whether it be a sporting kit, pictures of the old home town, a towel or a flag.

 “Although the heat of the Middle East is much more pleasant than the freshness of springtime in the valleys, it’s always important to mark important national celebrations such as St David’s Day and keep morale up onboard,” said proud Welshman Able Seaman (Chef) Jordan ‘Taff’ Burnett of Cardiff.

“It’s often the little things, like celebrating the same normal routine events as the rest of the UK, that help remind you of your loved ones when you’re thousands of miles away from home.”

With strong links to Monmouthshire and fond memories of runs ashore in Cardiff, the whole ship’s company have an affinity with the Principality, be they Welsh, English, Scottish, Northern Irish or from other parts of the Commonwealth.

The Black Duke will be celebrating her 20th anniversary on her return to the UK in the early summer, and later in the year is hoping to visit Cardiff as part of the celebrations.

HMS Monmouth is serving East of Suez as part of the Royal Navy’s continued commitment in the area. Working alongside coalition forces, her main tasks included protecting shipping, preventing smuggling and acting to deter and disrupt piracy.

St David’s day is held to celebrate the feast of Saint David, who is said to have died on the 1st March in the year 589.

With strong links to Monmouthshire and fond memories of runs ashore in Cardiff, the whole ship’s company have an affinity with the Principality, be they Welsh, English, Scottish, Northern Irish or from other parts of the Commonwealth.

The Black Duke will be celebrating her 20th anniversary on her return to the UK in the early summer, and later in the year is hoping to visit Cardiff as part of the celebrations.

HMS Monmouth is serving East of Suez as part of the Royal Navy’s continued commitment in the area. Working alongside coalition forces, her main tasks included protecting shipping, preventing smuggling and acting to deter and disrupt piracy.

St David’s day is held to celebrate the feast of Saint David, who is said to have died on the 1st March in the year 589.

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Press Release, March 1, 2013