Indeed, it was only going to end one way really.

And first done by Sutherland Brothers & Quiver...

I’m intrigued to see if they go ashore in their next port!

Last night's episode brought it home to me how our society has evolved during the last 50 years. In 1974 while on ops in the Norwegian fjords aboard HMS Hermes, we (845 NAS) lost a Wessex along with its pilot and aircrewman. The next day we had a small dignified memorial service punctuated by an RM bugle Last Post. No one seemed to need counselling, just back to work and crack on.

Last night, we learnt that a junior crew member aboard another ship of the task group (HMS Kent) had taken his own life. Sad yes but this seemed to trigger mass mourning aboard 'Big Liz' even though no one knew the deceased. So the boss suggested that officers and senior rates should look out for anyone that looked as though they might need a hug!

I wonder what folk that went south in 1982 aboard HMS SHEFFIELD, RFA SIR GALAHAD and HMS FEARLESS think about today's Forces?

Getting old!

Every generation thinks that the younger ones are softer than they were, GW1, Bosnia, GW2, numerous TELICs, HERRICKs and other ops have proved that little Johnny is the man his Dad was. I've been in 36 years now, things have changed massively, some good some bad, but when it comes to actually doing the business and fighting, we're the same as ever.

I was surprised to see that the crew were given a run ashore in a potential Covid environment too. Very strange.
Ronnie Lambert seems to be a trouble magnet, being chased by Russian heavies after a contretemp in a night club despite the crew being previously warned about avoiding certain 'venues'. :rolleyes:

I would take that story with a king-sized pinch of salt and, likeable as he may very well be, I was not totally surprised to learn that he has allegedly since been discharged as SNLR.

Jack

If that sailor was really being chased by Russian heavies, where were his shipmates? Surely they look out for each other on runs ashore?

I gather that SNLR means 'Services No Longer Required'?

As of yesterday I believe, he is now a Postman.

Looking at his social media, he seems to have left at some point between January (when he joined PoW) and April last year.

The change over the past 50 years is precisely because of ridiculous stiff upper lip attitudes that suppressed emotion and reactions and led to multiple cases of suicide, depression, PTSD, mental illness and general breakdowns in health and well being. The cases of PTSD from the Falklands and NI are still coming to the surface and cost numerous lives and mental health well being. Thankfully it is different today, and today's younger people are far better equipped to cope and move on. More strength to their elbow!

I'm sure that's true in armed conflict and emergency service scenarios but perhaps there's too much nurturing of the satellites outside of those circumstances. There seems to be waves of false grief and vigils for victims of accidents and murders over the past ten or so years and to make it worse, the adults bring their young children along to lay flowers, cards and toys. That's going to affect them more than the actual death of a pupil or person they barely - or even never - knew. Kids are resilient and I don't think they should be dragged into the 'out-pourings' of grief when a simple explanation is all that's needed.
I've had the usual share of family, friend and acquaintance losses as well as seeing some early violent departures and never felt the need for subsequent group hugs, counselling and public displays of emotion. It's probably a generation thing although it's been going on for thousands of years.

I suspect the changes are more to do with the consequences of 20 years of continuous operational tours in the ME. You are correct that there are many cases of PTSD from the Falklands, but I would suggest that seeing your friends get their jaw shot off, or bayonetting a bunch of crying conscripts in a trench in the night, is somewhat more traumatic than learning that a bloke you never knew, on a ship you’ve never been on, has topped himself.

Maybe, or maybe that you are just far less emphatic, caring and sympathetic than most?

I found the outpouring of emotion and grief at the death of Princess Diana to be a very strange reaction, but I find the expression of solidarity and compassion with those experiencing grief or loss a heart warming, uniting and overwhelmingly good thing.

No doubt you would just dismiss it as mere virtual signalling.

I think I’m pretty empathetic and sympathetic in general, and I also found the response to Diana’s death strange. But I’m not sure showing compassion for people experiencing grief they don’t really have a right to experience is appropriate.

By the way, this was my best mate. 21 years old in 1988. Several more followed. I’m not without feelings!!!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cbaf1165b.jpeg

Two good school friends of my age [15] died in separate tragedies. One was a marvellous all-round sportsman, both were achievers. There was no assembly to announce the deaths, [They "died", not "passed"] There was no overt grief. There was no counselling. That is how it was in 1951 or so.
Nothing to do with stiff upper lip, suppressed grief, PTSD. We talked a bit about the events for a few days and moved on.

The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there

This forum is amazing, truly a case of say what you want on the internet, but I'd wager not to many peoples faces!

And it's free as well. It'll be a sad day when it folds.

I hope you’re not referring to me? I’ll say any and all to anybody.

I like to think my posts are measured (I read them three or four times before sending) and definitely nothing that I wouldn't say to anyone over a soothing pint. Some members (usually on Jet Blast) seem to take offence very quickly, followed by the usual baying mob eager for a kill. I doubt their Pprune personas (sp?) echo their 'real' life though. :)

"I wonder what folk that went south in 1982 aboard HMS SHEFFIELD, RFA SIR GALAHAD and HMS FEARLESS think about today's Forces?"

IIRC at the time the question was asked

"I wonder what folk that went ashore in 1944, or fought in the Atlantic, the Murmansk run or the Malta Convoys think about today's Forces?"