Three cadets from Redditch & Bromsgrove Sea and Royal Marines Cadets were given a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in offshore voyages to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy.

Taking part in two-week voyages on TS Royalist and TS Jack Petchey, the Sea Cadets Offshore fleet escorted a ferry taking D-Day veterans from Portsmouth to France for the Remembrance commemorations. In France the Cadets also took part in various services and ceremonies.

So how did it feel to take part in the significant anniversary journey 80 years later?

The experience of a lifetime

One Cadet who sailed on TS Royalist, said: “I was really happy when I was given the opportunity to go on a two-week voyage on TS Royalist as part of the D-Day 80 commemorations.

“I felt immense pride as we took part in the flotilla that escorted the ferry carrying the D-Day veterans and Freedom Flame out of Portsmouth harbour on their way to France for the main commemorations.

Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets are standing in front of Training Ship Royalist, one of three Sea Cadets vessels to take part in the voyage. The rigging towers up behind the cadets with its sails unfurled.

“During our first few days, we spent time learning how the ship operates and did a lot of rope work so we knew how to handle and operate the sails. This was all in preparation for our sail across the British Channel to France.

“When we were in France, we had the opportunity to march over Pegasus Bridge and were cheered and clapped by members of the public as we marched past. I felt really proud, honoured and a little emotional as we marched past and wondered what it must have been like for those soldiers 80 years ago. I know how lucky I am to live the life I do today because of the bravery and sacrifice of those men and cannot thank them enough.

“I was really proud to wear my uniform and represent the Royal Navy, as well as the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) in front of the whole world and it will be an experience I will never forget.

“It was an experience of a lifetime and I’m very grateful that the Sea Cadets gave me the opportunity to be part of this historical event. I would encourage every cadet to try and be involved in an offshore voyage. It’s an amazing experience where you meet new people and make new friends as well as learning lots of new skills that you don’t get the chance to do otherwise.”

Pride and achievement

A second Cadet who sailed on TS Royalist added: “I would just like to say thank you to the Sea Cadet Corps for giving me this amazing opportunity to take part in the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

A Sea Cadet is holding on to the rigging of TS Royalist, saluting with her right hand and smiling. She is dressed in protective a red waterproof jacket and a safety harness, which is attached to the rigging structure.

“I got to experience, and learnt, how to sail a proper sailing ship and understand how it works and took an active part in the flotilla escorting the veterans and the flame to France.

“I had the opportunity to meet several dignitaries; The King, The Queen, the Prime Minister, President Macron and famous people including Sir Tom Jones and Richard Hammond. Unfortunately, due to the events of the day I was unable to talk to any of the veterans.

“Being on TS Royalist meant I made friends very quickly, the crew of 24 that I had only met five minutes ago felt like I had known them for years, at the end of the trip you feel like a part of a family. On the journey to the ship, I felt nervous because it was my first time going away from my family, especially for two weeks, so you wonder how nervous those soldiers must have felt going over to France ready to fight, not knowing if they would return to their homes and loved ones. It was emotional to see that when we saluted the veterans one of them returned the salute.

“The sense of pride and achievement I have gained from this trip of a lifetime is immeasurable. It has given me a great boost to my confidence, and I now feel enabled to take on different challenges. Again, I would like to thank the SCC and staff of TS Royalist for all the effort they put in to make the two weeks memorable.”

A group of Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets are standing together in a group wearing their uniforms, alongside Richard Hammond. It is a sunny day and the Cadets are all smiling at the camera, pleased to meet a celebrity on their travels!

Remembering the freedom we have

Our last reflection comes from a Cadet who was on TS Jack Petchey. Sharing the excitement of the voyage, they said:

“I arrived at Fort Blockhouse to board TS Jack Petchey ready for this adventure, it was a two-week voyage as it was intended that the ship along with TS Royalist and TS John Jerwood would meet up at Pegasus Bridge, Ranville, France. This was in order for the crews from the three vessels to take part in the celebrations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings in 1944.

“I was one of twelve other cadets from all over the country on board TS Jack Petchey, we spent the first afternoon and evening getting used to each other and the staff and finding out about the vessel and the plans for the voyage.

“The next morning after a good breakfast cooked by our coxswain, we took part in some exercises on the vessel. Later that day we cruised to Portsmouth and moored up alongside Spinnaker tower for the night. On the Monday we set off for Ouistreham, France. During the voyage we took watches and undertook various jobs on board, from manning the helm, navigation, lookout assisting the engineer and helping the coxswain with the meals, and this was very much the routine throughout the two weeks I was onboard. This was remarkably interesting in particular I enjoyed the engineering.

The Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets are marching on parade together through a street in France. They are wearing their uniforms whilst a arm from the crowd in the foreground is holding a Sea Cadets flag with their logo on it.

“We arrived in France that evening and moored up just short of Pegasus bridge, the next day we had some time ashore to investigate the area around our mooring and Pegasus bridge. Later we were joined by TS Royalist and TS John Jerwood and became one unit for the next couple of days. We spent some time practicing our drill and ceremonial skills.

“We were divided up into detachments some were staying in Ranville, and some were traveling to the D-Day cemetery in Bayeux, this was a detachment of twelve cadets plus officers and I was part of this group. On arrival we took part in rehearsals for the celebrations later that day, then prior to the celebrations starting we assisted veterans to their seats and this was a good experience as I was able to talk to them and listen to their experiences. This was very humbling. We paraded for the celebrations, and this was a very emotional experience in the cemetery with so many of the fallen soldiers all round us.

Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets are standing in a line together on Pegasus Bridge. They are dressed in their uniforms, in front of a metal rail. The bridge is a large white metal structure made up of steel beams and a raised platform.

“The next day was the 6th of June D-Day, 80 years ago. We practiced more drill and then formed up to take part in the celebrations around Pegasus bridge. We Marched across Pegasus Bridge and this was an immensely proud moment as this was exactly what the troops did following the liberation of Ranville 80 years ago, followed by wreath laying and other celebrations around Ranville and the museum.

“On the Friday the three vessels parted ways with TS Royalist and TS John Jerwood heading back to the UK whilst we were heading down the coast of France to Saint-Vaast a small tidal harbour. We had to wait outside the harbour for the tide to be right for us to enter and whilst we waited it was an opportunity for us to go overboard and have a swim – the water was lovely!

The Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets visiting graves and memorials in France. They are standing seperately, each saluting a grave stone in memory of the fallen, paying their respects.

“Later we entered the harbour and moored up for two days. On the following Sunday we left the harbour and headed further along the coast to Carteret, where it took most of the day to reach the port and where we spent a couple of days doing maintenance and cleaning of the ship, and spending some time ashore. It was planned that we would visit the Channel Islands in the way back to Weymouth, however we had a problem with the batteries on the ship which had to be replaced so we ended up spending another day in Carteret waiting for replacements.

“On 12th of June we left France for our return voyage to Weymouth. The following morning, we got up and it was all hands to cleaning stations to clean the ship top to bottom ready for the next crew. We had some shore leave in Weymouth that afternoon and collected fish and chips from the chip shop in the sea boat for dinner that evening. We had a presentation of awards that evening.

Training Ship Jack Petchey is moored up at a port

“During the final day we finished the cleaning routine, departing the ship for home. This is an experience that will be with me for the rest of my life, I have made some excellent friends that I will be staying connected with, and the celebrations at Pegasus will never be the same – many of those who made the trip this year may never make the trip again. It is right that we the young generation remember the freedom we have is owed to those who fought 80 years ago. I look forward to my next adventure offshore with Sea Cadets, but it will be hard to beat this one. Thank you again to all those who have made this possible.”

TS Kingfisher is home to Redditch & Bromsgrove Sea and Royal Marines Cadets. With 70 cadets supported by fourteen uniformed volunteers and a Board of Trustees, they parade twice a week to provide young people with key development skills, adventure, vocational qualifications and unique opportunities – both on and off the water.

Their Royal Marines Cadets enjoy all of the same activities on the water that the Sea Cadets do, but additionally take part in extra adventure training including field craft, weapons handling and orienteering. Learn more about the Sea Cadets in our region.

 

Published 23/07/24