Pictures: LA(Phot) Aaron Hoare, HMS Protector

FOR the first time in four decades the waters around one of the most remote communities on the planet have been mapped courtesy of the Royal Navy.

Survey ship HMS Protector dispatched her hi-tech motor launch to chart the seas around the tiny volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha – the latest stop for the Portsmouth-based scientific ship as she edges her way towards Antarctica.

The bright red survey ship is too large to berth in the small harbour at Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, ‘capital’ of the island which lies 1,750 miles from South Africa and more than 2,000 miles from South America.

So with Protector herself a few hundred yards offshore, her sea boat put a small party ashore on the island while her survey motor launch James Caird IV used her multi-beam echo sounder to map the Edinburgh anchorages – the only such survey using modern techniques.

Protector has long-standing links with Tristan da Cunha courtesy of the previous Antarctic survey ship – and a volcanic eruption in 1961 which forced the island’s inhabitants to be evacuated to England.

The then Protector, a pre-war net layer converted into an ice patrol ship in the 50s, recovered members of a Royal Society expedition which assessed the damage the following year (reporting that the settlement had only been marginally affected) and delivered supplies and mail to Tristan in 1964 after most islanders had returned. 

Capt Peter Sparkes (centre) goes ashore on Tristan via Protector’s sea boat

Although Edinburgh remained habitable, the waters surrounding the settlement were badly affected by the volcanic eruption, making them particularly hazardous for navigation and requiring the survey work of today’s Protector.

In addition to her scientific data gathering, the ship also carried out a fishery protection patrol of the Tristan archipelago – which comprises the main island itself, along with the uninhabited Nightingale Islands and the wildlife reserves of Inaccessible Island and Gough Island. The waters are home to lobster and crayfish – key to the Tristan economy.

“It’s been a genuine pleasure and privilege for HMS Protector – and the Royal Navy – to be able to help in making the waters around Tristan da Cunha safer for all seafarers; we are delighted to be here,” said the ship’s Commanding Officer Capt Peter Sparkes, who paid a short visit ashore to meet islanders.

Her work complete around Tristan – and her powerful computers now ‘crunching’ all the data gathered by the survey equipment in its waters – HMS Protector is beginning her passage to the frozen continent for her second season amid the ice mapping waters and supporting Britain’s Antarctic scientists.

Pictures: LA(Phot) Joel Rouse, HMS Bulwark

ROYAL Marines bugler L/Cpl Nathan Crossley of HMS Bulwark places a small cross on the grave of a fellow member of the Corps, Cpl George McKenna, killed in the Adriatic 68 years ago this autumn.

The 25-year-old corporal is one of 29 British servicemen at peace in the British Cemetery in Corfu town on the island of the same name.

With the nation’s flagship visiting the Greek island ahead of exercises with the Albanians in the Adriatic, a group from the ship, led by the Commander United Kingdom Task Group, Commodore Paddy McAlpine, paid their respects during a memorial service.

Dead from the 20th Century’s two terrible conflagrations, mostly WW2, are laid to rest in the graveyard, plus a dozen of the 44 men killed in an infamous post-war tragedy: the Corfu Channel incident.

Illegally-laid mines crippled two British warships as the Royal Navy sought to assert freedom of passage on the high seas in waters between Albania and the Greek island of Corfu in October 1946.

As they did, HM destroyers Volage and Saumarez struck mines; the entire bow of Volage was blown off, taking eight men to a watery grave as it sheared off.

Cdre McAlpine bows in memory of the Corfu Channel incident dead

Twelve of the dead were subsequently buried in the British Cemetery, where a memorial to all those lost also stands.

Nearly 70 years later, prayers were led by Bulwark’s chaplain Reverend Dave Roissetter, for all members of the Armed Forces who are commemorated in the cemetery.

Following the last post, sounded by L/Cpl Crossley Royal Marines, a minute’s silence was observed after which Commodore McAlpine laid a wreath at the Corfu Channel memorial.

“It is important for us to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of our fellow service personnel and to keep their memory alive.

“These men were some of the first British casualties of the Cold War and their story reminds us of the need in an uncertain world to be ready to follow their example of courageous service at sea as well as on the land.”

Bulwark’s CO Capt Andrew Burns added: “The ship’s visit to Corfu has presented an opportunity to commemorate our fallen at this time of remembrance.

“It is particularly appropriate that it should be an amphibious ship doing so, given the historic links between Corfu and the island’s World War 2 liberators, the Royal Marines.”     

Following her visit to Corfu, Bulwark has sailed north to take part in Exercise Albanian Lion with the host nation before further duties in the Mediterranean as part of the Cougar 12 deployment by the nation’s Response Force Task Group.

For a round-up of Royal Navy remembrance events, visit http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2012/November/12/121112-Remembrance