News

Date: 19DEC23

Author: Royal Navy Public Relations Office

At 39 Captain Andrew Bray is the youngest person in a quarter of a century to oversee the training of several hundred Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary officers every year, plus scores of cadets from the UK’s international partners and allies.

He takes over as Captain of Britannia Royal Naval College from Captain Sarah Oakley, who leaves the imposing red-brick college rising over Dartmouth for the corridors of power, working at the Ministry of Defence’s headquarters in Whitehall.

She took charge of the 118-year-old establishment in May 2022 and said her 18 months at the helm had been a privilege she would always remember. “The opportunity to inspire and train the next generation of naval officers is one I have relished,” she said. “I am reassured by the commitment and dedication of the individuals who have chosen to make a career in the Royal Navy. I would like to thank all the staff, officers and local community for their support during my tenure.”

Her successor is the first logistics officer to head the establishment, holding a post held previously by names such as legendary submariner and VC winner Martin Dunbar-Nasmith, former First Sea Lord Sir Julian Oswald and Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt, father of the current Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt.

Captain Bray began his Royal Navy career as a cadet in September 2002. He returns 21 years later as its commanding officer having served extensive around the globe in survey ship HMS Scott, destroyer Dragon and, most recently, in the UK’s largest warship, aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.

“I am delighted to be taking command of the college today. I would like to thank Captain Oakley for all she has done for the college, cadets, staff and our community,” he added.

“At a time when the importance of the Navy could not be more apparent to our way of life and national security, I look forward to joining the team and the local community as we work together to lead, mentor, and train our future leaders.”

Date: 15DEC23

Author: Royal Navy Public Relations Office

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales welcomed more than 160 men and women to the international family of naval officers at an impressive ceremony in Dartmouth, Devon.

Prince William took the Royal Salute at what is probably the most prestigious event of the year at Britannia Royal Naval College, representing his father at Lord High Admiral’s Divisions.

Hosted by the Captain of BRNC Captain Sarah Oakley and accompanied by the Head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, His Royal Highness – who holds the honorary role of Commodore-in-Chief Submarines – inspected the passing out divisions arrayed on the parade ground of the Edwardian institution which looks out across Dartmouth and the Dart estuary.

Passing out was a mix of fresh Royal Navy Officer Cadets, 18 international cadets from Oman, Kuwait, Bangladesh and Trinidad & Tobago, 11 new officers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – the Royal Navy’s vital support flotilla – and 18 sailors commissioned from the ranks.

All had undergone 29 weeks of intensive training, which turned them from civilians into junior naval officers who have been tested in a variety of scenarios: in the classroom, on Dartmoor, the River Dart and at sea on board an operational warship. Most will now go on to further training in their chosen branches of the Royal Navy.

Prince William told all present that Dartmouth still held “a very special place” in his heart through the connections of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, all of whom had marched on the parade ground, to his grandparents famously meeting in its grounds on the eve of World War 2 and his personal experiences at the College 15 years ago.

He completed a short, intensive training course at Britannia before deploying with frigate HMS Iron Duke on Caribbean anti-narcotics patrols in 2008. Having once stood on the same spot as the cadets on cold winter’s days, he promised to keep his speech short to allow them to march through the College’s famous doors at the ceremony’s end and celebrate their success.

For cadets going on to serve in the Royal Navy, His Royal Highness said they were embarking upon “incredibly rewarding” careers in “a period of great expansion”.

He concluded his address: “To the families and friends gathered here and watching online – thank you for your support and understanding to get these brilliant men and women this far, and even more so for the empathy, compromise, and dedication that will be required to give these Young Officers every chance of success in their careers.

“Finally to you, our newest Naval Officers, congratulations. I wish you every success as you embark on this incredible journey of duty and service to our Nation.”

His Royal Highness subsequently met some of the Cadets who had taken part in the parade, plus their instructors and staff, on the historic Quarter Deck inside the College.

Among those passing out in front of the heir to the throne after completing their training were 22-year-old Officer Cadet Syd Shane from Southampton who came to the UK from Baghdad when he was six, and 25-year0old Grace Penn from Portsmouth, who passed out at Dartmouth as a rating during the Covid pandemic, and the first of her class to join the Officer Corps.

Syd, who will now train as a submarine engineer, said: “I’ve been inspired by doing Officer training by my family, who have supported me through the course. Training has given me confidence in leadership and I am exciting about moving onto the engineering and working with nuclear submarines.”

Grace added: “Having completed my Rating training here at BRNC during Covid, I had a good idea what to expect. I served at Culdrose and HMS Northumberland in Logistics, so experiences on HMS Prince of Wales were very familiar. My next move will be to become a logistics officer and travel – I just love being by the sea.”

Captain Sarah Oakley, Britannia’s Commanding Officer, said that all passing-out parades at Dartmouth were special, but Lord High Admiral’s Divisions was… “probably the most prestigious of the year”.

She continued: “Today is an historic day for BRNC as we host His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as our Guest of Honour at this year’s Lord High Admiral’s Divisions. All the cadets passing out have reached a significant milestone in their naval career and now move on to the next stage of training and new roles across the Royal Navy.

“Whether this is their first step on their naval journey, or the culmination of many years of dedicated service, passing out of the college as a naval officer in front of friends and family is a testament to their hard work and commitment.”

Date: 14DEC23

Author: BRNC Public Relations Office

As part of Lord High Admirals passing out parade in December, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key unveiled a plaque officially naming the two new bridge simulators at Britannia Royal Naval College. The bridge simulators at BRNC make up part of a wider rollout taking place in early 2024.

Named after Admiral FitzRoy, BRNC’s Navigation block is where the search for names for the two bridge simulators began. Establishing a link with FitzRoy was key. On investigation, it appeared Admiral FitzRoy had not commanded that many ships, so the choice of options was going to be limited. After careful consideration and consultation with RN Ship naming Committee, the names ADVENTURE and BEAGLE were chosen. Beagle was the ship that FitzRoy commanded during Darwin’s original species studies and Adventure was the schooner FitzRoy purchased with his own money to assist in the survey.

Lt Cdr Mark Raeburn, the Navigation department lead had the privilege of hosting the First Sea Lord during his visit and was able to demonstrate the capability, realism, and versatility of the simulators. The Navigators working and instructing in Fitzroy Block, drawn from ships and submarines around the fleet, remarked to the First Sea Lord on the overwhelmingly positive responses these new facilities have already received from the first students being trained in them. The new sims will benefit both phase 1 and phase 2 training and are a significant step change in the training that can be delivered.

Lt Cdr Mark Raeburn said “It was an honour and a privilege to host the First Sea Lord here in Fitzroy Block. Now formally named, ADVENTURE and BEAGLE stand ready to serve successive future generations of naval officers, Navigators and Captains, as they embark on their own exciting naval careers. With the time-honoured skills and practices that have kept our ships and submarines safe at sea, for centuries, these world-leading simulators will ensure that our people are better equipped, than ever, to meet the challenges they will face at sea and win”.

Image: Peter Heal, Captain Sarah Oakley, Admiral Sir Ben Key, Lt Cdr Raeburn

Date: 17NOV23

Author: BRNC Public Relations Office

Britannia Royal Naval College Captain Sarah Oakley RN had the honour of unveiling the South Devon NHS Foundation Trusts Armed Forces Covenant Veterans Healthcare Accreditation plaque at Torbay Hospital this week. The Trust invited Captain Oakley to unveil the permanent reminder of their pledge to the covenant.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge to acknowledge those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and their families. If you are a member of the Armed Forces, a Veteran or a family member, the Covenant offers a vital role in support. Many organisations have committed to make a difference, including the NHS, schools and local government.

Captain Oakley was met by Sir Richard Ibbotson, South Devon Healthcare Trust chairman, Sir Richard himself a former Naval officer. Captain Oakley commented “I am delighted to be here for the unveiling of this award. The Armed Forces Covenant and those organisations who sign up to it are very important to all serving and former serving personnel. We are truly grateful to all the NHS staff who go to extraordinary lengths to provide outstanding care and support to the serving and veterans in Devon.”

For more information on the Armed Forces Covenant and what it offers Veterans, and their families visit www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk

Image: Natalie Herring – Interim Deputy Chief Nurse, Liz Davenport – Chief Executive, Michelle Westwood – Chief People Person, Sir Richard Ibbotson – Chairman, Nina Kneil – Defence Services Officer, Captain Sarah Oakley RN – Captain Britannia Royal Naval College, WO1 Swift – Base Warrant Officer Britannia Royal Naval College

Date: 10NOV23

Author: BRNC Public Relations Office

On 30th October 2023, a collection of naval history was kindly donated to the Britannia Museum and Archive, the naval papers and journal of Commander J A J (Alec) Dennis DSC RN. The donation was delivered to Britannia Royal Naval college by Dr Anthony J. Cumming and Mr Jon Walley on behalf of Georgie Reddington and Alan Dennis of British Columbia, the children of Commander Dennis.

Commander Dennis served on the Royal Navy’s China Station during the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945 and later in some of the most hard-fought campaigns of the Second World War; including Norway, Operation Aerial, Battle of Matapan, the Syria-Lebanon campaign, and the Battle of Crete.

First Lieutenant on the destroyer HMS Griffin 1939-1942 and later HMS Savage, he then went on to be the Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMS Valorous.

Included in the papers and files donated is Commander Dennis midshipman’s journal. The journal includes personal typed eyewitness accounts of his experiences, including such events as the sinking of the troopship Mohamed Ali El Kebir by Heinrich Liebe’s U38, and the capture of key intelligence, the German Q ship Polares – an important milestone of the intelligence war in 1940.

Joining Mr Jon Walley & Dr Anthony J. Cummings for the presentation were historians, Dr Jane Harrold, and Dr Richard Porter. Dr Harrold commented “Such historic papers and files are an invaluable piece of naval history, giving future generations of historians vital resource and securing precious naval history for both officer cadets and visitors to appreciate.” For Mr Jon Walley, the papers had personal significance as his father had been the PMO on HMS Griffin and had been a personal friend of Commander Dennis. For Dr Tony Cummings as a former Plymouth University post graduate student, he had used the Britannia Museum archives as part of his research and was also a volunteer interviewer for the Britannia’s Voices Oral History Project back in 2018.

Shortly after presenting the papers to the Britannia Museum and Archives, Mr Alan Dennis presented a fine art painting of HMS Griffin (later HMCS Ottawa) by former distinguished Royal Navy officer and later successful maritime artist Hugh Knollys, to the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum in Victoria Canada.

Image: Mr Anthony J. Cummings, Dr Richard Porter, Dr Jane Harrold, and Mr Jon Walley.

Date: 08NOV23

Author: BRNC Public Relations Office

Captain Sarah Oakley RN had the honour of hosting Mr John Thring and his sister Susan, who had made the journey to the college to gift to BRNC their grandfather, Walter Thring’s collection of Naval memorabilia.

Walter Hugh Charles Samuel Thring, passed the Competition of Cadetships to join the Royal Navy in 1887 at the age of 13. His Naval career beginning when the Naval College was still a hulk moored on the Dart. In 1888 Walter won the Term Prize and was presented with an engraved telescope; one of several awards Walter would receive in his Naval Career.

In 1891 he was presented with the First Admiralty prize for drawing. His talent for drawing was captured in his Midshipman’s journal kept while serving on HMS Warspite. The journal illustrating Warspite’s northward movements is filled with hand-drawn pen and ink charts and watercolour pictures of memorable sites and scenes. Not only was he a skilled artist but an excellent mathematician, building a prototype rate of change of range calculator which was later modified and adopted for use by the RN. Assigned to the battleship HMS Vengeance based at the China Station, the now Commander Thring received the Order of the Rising Sun, awarded for his service as advisor to the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1904.

The Thring family felt BRNC would be the most fitting place for his journal and awards to reside, historians Jane Harrold and Richards Porter were delighted to receive the collection for display in the college museum.  Captain Sarah Oakley commented “As a navigator, to see hand drawn charts to such detail and precision will be something of special interest to the Officer cadets and visitors; we thank the family for taking the time to visit us today and donating their grandfather’s memorabilia.”

Date: 05NOV23

Author: BRNC Public Relations Office

Britannia Royal Naval College welcomed the annual Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The Members of Parliament visited BRNC for the two-day scheme with the aim of gaining a greater understanding of Royal Navy officer training and the broader Naval service.

The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme has been in existence for over thirty years offering Members of Parliament and Peers an invaluable insight into military life. This insight then translates into a more informed contribution when debating defence matters in their respective Houses.

Welcomed by Captain Sarah Oakley RN, the Members began their visit by witnessing exercise HAVOC, the first of many assessments for the Officer Cadets. Moving from land to water the groups were able to witness a mariner-based assessment and undertake a river acquaint on BRNC’s training craft, the Vahana. A BRNC historic tour and ceremonial march past completed day one.

Day two offered the Members an opportunity to have a tour of the gymnasium and witness Initial Military Fitness (IMF) in progress followed by a visit to the Navigation department to see the bridge simulator in action. The visit culminated in a fireside chat with the Officer Cadets, a chance to share their experiences of officer training and military life with the Members. The Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park commented, “A fascinating visit to BRNC. From going out on the River Dart, to watching cadets being put through their paces in the gym and during the HAVOC activities, we got a real insight into the life of those training to be Royal Navy officers. Thanks to everyone involved.”

Finally, with a call on the Captain, the Members departed BRNC after a memorable and informative visit complete for another year. Lord Frederick Ponsonby concluded “Every Royal Navy officer will have been through Dartmouth. We got a unique insight into the Navy’s history and met its future leaders and those of Navies from around the world. It all contributed to a great visit.”

Image: left to right, The Right Honourable the Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Steve Brine MP, the Right Honourable the Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, Captain Sarah Oakley RN, Cdr Susie Moran RN, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Chris Loder MP, Sir James Duddridge KCMG MP

Date: 30OCT23

Author: BRNC Public Relations Office

A delegation from the Embassy of the Republic of Peru, led by Rear Admiral Jose Antonio Regalado Defence Attaché Peru, made the annual visit to BRNC to commemorate one of their heroes, Vice Admiral Martin Guise.

Vice Admiral Guise, a Royal Navy Officer who served alongside Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar was a celebrated hero of the Peruvian War of Independence in 1820 and played a leading role in the formation of the Peruvian Navy.

Upon leaving the Royal Navy, Admiral Guise travelled to South America, going on to serve with Admiral Thomas Cochrane, both men being instrumental in the attack on the Spanish Flagship Esmeralda in 1820, guaranteeing independence for Peru.

The Commemoration ceremony and wreath laying took place in front of the portrait of Vice Admiral Guise. The portrait is a specially commissioned copy of the original hung in Peru. The painting was presented in 2017 during a visit by the Peruvian Navy’s tall-ship, Bap Union. This year, the impressive painting has a new home, the newly refurbished Wardroom Guestroom. Rear Admiral Jose Antonio Regalado said, “We will always respect the need to continue honouring Admiral Martin Guise for our future generations”. Captain Sarah Oakley added “It is a great honour to have such a lasting relationship with the Peruvian Navy…to honour Admiral Guise and celebrate his memory and the strength of relationship between the Peruvian Navy and Royal Navy.”

Image: Left to right, Captain O Garrido-Lecca, Captain Sarah Oakley RN, Rear Admiral J Regalado, Commander (Rtd) J Luna Bao

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