by DEMOCRAT REPORTER
ROYAL NAVY submariners celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Submarine Service were at Windsor Castle for a gala dinner to mark the occasion.
Two hundred submariners and guests were invited to the special event, which was also attended by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who is Commodore-in-Chief of the Submarine Service.
Also there were the First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, Chief of Defence Nuclear Madeline McTernan, and Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse.
One of the guests of honour was Sir Mark Stanhope, the most senior veteran of the Submarine Service, having served as First Sea Lord from 2009 to 2013.
The submariners received the royal treatment, with guests greeted at Windsor Castle’s Quadrangle – the central courtyard of the castle’s upper ward used as a reception site for visiting heads of state and dignitaries.
Here there was a ceremonial sunset, a Royal Navy tradition sometimes affectionately known as “putting the King to bed”, where the White Ensign and Union Flag are lowered at dusk.
Guests then proceeded to the impressive Waterloo Chamber, the huge state room which was built to commemorate the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, and which features 28 portraits of kings, generals, and leaders involved.
Dinner was served in St George’s Hall, where Prince William delivered a speech highlighting how the Submarine Service demands exceptional skill, unwavering trust in one another, and a readiness to face challenges that very few can fully comprehend.
It is a calling which also demands profound sacrifice, he emphasised, with long periods away from home, little or no contact with the outside world, and the willingness to serve in a unique and unforgiving environment.
The dinner was accompanied by a brass quintet from the Royal Marines Band and culminated in traditional style with the singing of sea shanties, delivered with much gusto!
Rear Admiral Andy Perks MBE, Rear Admiral Submarines, said: “Tonight brought together a remarkable cross-section of the Submarine Service community to celebrate 125 years of service to the nation.
“The Submarine Service has always been more than the boats we operate or the missions we undertake; it is a community bound by shared experience, mutual trust and enduring friendships that span generations. We should be able to mark this milestone at Windsor Castle with our Commodore-in-Chief, reflecting upon both the proud history of our service and the exciting future that lies ahead.”
The event was held almost 125 years to the day that the Royal Navy’s first submarine, Holland 1, was launched from Barrow-in-Furness, and just a few days after the service’s latest submarine, HMS Agamemnon, sailed from the same location on September 25th.
The Windsor Castle gala dinner was one in a series of events throughout the year marking 125 years since the birth of the Submarine Service.
In April, Royal Navy submariners returning home from a deterrent patrol were met by the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary in recognition of the dedication and sacrifice submariners and their families make to protect our nation.
Later, in June, HM Naval Base Clyde – the home of the Submarine Service – was visited by Prince William. While at the site, he visited a Vanguard Class submarine and spent time with submariners’ family members to learn about their lives and experiences.
There have also been smaller celebrations throughout the year, including a Submarine Service birthday bash for service children, conferences, and even a fun “Battle of the Boats” sporting competition.
Commodore Ben Haskins, Commander of the Submarine Flotilla, said: “This was a truly memorable event that provided the opportunity to mark the contribution of all those who serve and have served, and their loved ones.
“The theme of this year’s series of events – ‘from Holland 1 to HMS Agamemnon’ – provides a unique opportunity to celebrate both our heritage and our bright future as an integral part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.”
The Royal Navy Submarine Service began with the arrival of its first vessel, Holland 1, in 1901. The Navy recruited six officers under the command of Captain Reginald Bacon, who was appointed “Inspecting Captain of Submarines”.
Initially dismissed as “underhand, unfair, and damned un-English”, submarines soon proved their worth. During the First World War, the service was awarded five Victoria Crosses, going on to earn 14 during its 125-year history.
Today, the Royal Navy Submarine Service provides the UK with unique military capabilities. They can operate undetected, contribute to intelligence gathering and special operations, and can carry out surprise attacks at sea with torpedoes and on land using Tomahawk missiles.
Submarines also provide a deterrent effect, with the navy’s Vanguard Class vessels contributing to the delivery of the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD), a mission which the Royal Navy has fulfilled, unbroken, since 1969.
From the 2030s, the nuclear deterrent baton will be passed to the next generation of submarines – the Dreadnought Class.
Work is underway at HM Naval Base Clyde to develop the site to prepare for the arrival of the Dreadnoughts as well as the next generation of attack submarines, known as SSN-AUKUS.