Today’s defence-related coverage includes reporting on this year’s Invictus Games, the publication of the First Sea Lord’s letter in The Telegraph following incorrect reporting, and the Iraq Fatalities Investigations.
UK team departs for Invictus Games 2017
The UK team departed from London Heathrow yesterday for the third Invictus Games in Toronto ahead of the opening ceremony this Saturday. BBC Newsround featured an interview with Sgt Michelle Turner and some of her family, whilst coverage of theGames also featured in The Telegraph and The Sun.
The 90-strong UK team departed for Toronto, Canada on Thursday 21 September.
The Invictus Games harness the power of sport to inspire recovery and generate wider understanding and respect for those who serve their country.
Getting involved in sport helps with self-confidence and feeling empowered.
The UK Delegation to the Games is being delivered by a partnership of the MOD, Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion.
Incorrect reporting on HMS Ocean
In an article last Friday, the Daily Telegraph incorrectly claimed that HMS Ocean suffered engine problems when it was sent to the Caribbean as part of the Hurricane Irma aid effort and that it was delayed by a week. Following a correction issued yesterday noting that ‘HMS Ocean left Gibraltar on time as planned and has not suffered engine problems’, the paper has published a letter from the First Sea Lord:
Sir
As head of the Naval Service I owe it to my people and your readers to set the record straight (‘Weakened Navy ‘can barely protect UK’’, September 15).
HMS Ocean arrives today to assist with the relief effort. I was disappointed this time last week when The Telegraph reported that she had been delayed by engine problems. In fact, she sailed from Gibraltar on time and to plan and is laden with nine helicopters, hundreds of pallets of emergency aid, water, trucks and almost 700 personnel from all three services. I would also highlight the role of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay which has been instrumental to the UK’s immediate military response and deserves to be recognised.
As for the wider Fleet, this week there have been over 30 ships and submarines deployed on operations, preparing for operations or in training. This includes frigates and destroyers that are patrolling our home waters, protecting maritime trade in the Middle East and leading a NATO task group in the Mediterranean.
The Royal Navy does have manpower challenges and we have not tried to hide this fact. We are making good progress to put them right and only last week I was able to announce Royal Navy affiliations with a further four University Technical Colleges which are helping to train the engineers and scientists that the Navy and the Nation will depend on for our future security and prosperity.
It is reassuring that the Daily Telegraph recognises the pivotal importance of a strong Royal Navy but it is disappointing that such a story was printed with such prominence. We must never lose sight of how hard our sailors and marines are working today, or how relevant their contribution will become as the United Kingdom forges a new, confident and ambitious role in the world.
Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC
First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff
Iraq Fatalities Investigations
The Daily Mail and The Sun report that three service personnel may potentially face non-criminal investigation by the Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) unit.
An MOD spokesperson said:
Our armed forces served with great courage and professionalism in Iraq and we rightly hold them to the highest standards. But, like all civilised countries, we have a legal responsibility to make sure that credible allegations of serious criminal behaviour by UK forces are properly investigated.
We are legally obliged to follow a High Court ruling that ordered the establishment of the Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) process. The IFI is a non-criminal investigation looking at the circumstances of a small number of civilian deaths in order to establish what happened, identify any systemic problems which may have led to the death, and make recommendations to deal with any such problems in future. This is not a criminal investigation.
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