The Royal Navy’s retiring chief had issued a passionate call for the nation to support our war-weary troops – as Britain celebrated its first Armed Forces Day.
Admiral Sir Jonathon Band told The Sun why the inaugural celebration meant so much to Our Boys and Girls.
The tough-talking old sea dog chose the forces’ No1 paper for his last interview before he retires next month.
Admiral Band declared: “Servicemen are pretty normal guys. They’re not in it for a million pounds. They like the life, the teamwork and the professional satisfaction.
“It’s a calling, not a job. It’s a service, not a trade. They don’t want to be pitied and shouldn’t be. But the one thing servicemen like is to be recognised.”
He added: “I hope that today, for a few moments, they realise this nation thanks them for what they have done.”
Sir Jonathon, 59 – who has served 42 years in the Navy – won huge popularity among the ranks by standing up for sailors’ pay and resources.
Like retiring Army boss General Sir Richard Dannatt, he was passed over for the military’s top job, Chief of Defence Staff, when his outbursts angered PM Gordon Brown.
He revealed his emotion at seeing Marines and Navy support staff in action in Afghanistan last winter, saying: “The proudest moment in my job was seeing sailors and marines step up to the mark.
“They’ve been prepared to lay down their lives for this country. The bomb is indiscriminate in Helmand province.
“When they’re on the front line, fighting piracy, in submarines or in Afghanistan, they are incredibly motivated. A decent wage packet, due recognition, a hot shower and a roof over their head is all they ask.”
Admiral Band – to be succeeded by Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope next month – conceded he was worried whether the forces take on too many tasks, with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other global missions causing “overstretch”.
He praised The Sun and Help for Heroes, adding: “One thing that’s seriously helped is your campaign.
“It’s one thing working jolly hard 24 hours a day but another if you’re not getting recognised for it.
“I talked to marines in Plymouth about this. They were wearing Help for Heroes wristbands and talking about what an enormous effect it has had. They all read The Sun.”
He insisted that the world in the next 20 years will be more dangerous than it was in the last 20, adding: “The world is beset by a whole raft of new issues.
“We have the emergence of China and India, the rise of energy-owning countries like Russia, Nigeria and Iran, the shift of the economic engine to the East, a shortage of energy.
“Then there are failing states and international terrorism. You need an insurance policy.”
Britain has 24 warships on six tasks around the world – but Sir Jonathon is calling for 25 and warned against plans to axe two aircraft carrier orders.
He said: “There is no navy in the world that puts its ships to sea like us. But a ship can’t be in two places at once.”
Proud princes William and Harry joined Sir Jonathon in the tributes to troops.
In a joint statement, RAF officer William, 27, and Army officer Harry, 24, said it was “humbling” to be part of our forces.
It read: “Armed Forces Day is a celebration of our fighting men and women and the immeasurable contribution they make to our lives and the reputation of this country.”
The Queen marked the occasion by sending a message of good wishes to the UK’s service personnel, their families and military veterans.
Thousands are expected to support events across Britain.
Staff at Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital, which cares for military and civilian patients, displayed Armed Forces Day posters yesterday.
Page 3 Girl Peta celebrated by helping troops wash cars in Aldershot, Hants.
The Sun paid tribute by turning the London Eye into a giant Help for Heroes wristband. At sunset last night, the giant wheel beamed the colours of the three military services over the River Thames.
Red for the Army, dark blue for the Navy and light blue for the RAF make up the wounded troops charity’s emblem.
London Eye bosses agreed to change the lighting to back our appeal, which has raised £23million in 21 months to improve facilities for troops.
Technicians tried out the new colours on Thursday.
BRITISH soldiers have been ordered to smarten-up – after American top brass branded them SCRUFFY.
The instruction was sent to 90,000 men and women by General Sir David Richards, Commander-in-Chief Land Forces.
Sir David said some of his troops were “failing to live up to high standards of appearances”.
Army sources revealed that senior US officers had complained about long-haired Brits in Afghanistan.
American GIs are forced to keep up high standards, with ultra short hair.
Now Our Boys’ have been reminded of an Army directive that states hair must be well-trimmed, worn above the collar and be clear of the ears.
Moustaches must be neat and sideburns must not extend below the centre of the ear. The only jewellery allowed are watches, wedding rings and signet rings.
The directive says servicewomen’s hair must be above the collar and, if long, worn in a bun net – not in a pony tail.
Ribbons are banned and combs must be a similar colour to the hair.
Bright nail varnish is out and make-up must be “inconspicuous”.
A senior officer said: “After the experience of Vietnam, where standards slipped drastically, the US insisted on very high standards of appearance.
“These are evident alongside us in Afghanistan.”
Another source said: “There has been a slide in appearance standards in some parts of the Army. It’s good these basics are being gripped.”
But a retired colonel said: “On operational tours dress code is irrelevant. It’s their battle skills we need.
“We need to give the chaps some leeway because any time soon they’re going to be back in the firing line, ready to lay down their lives.”
The MOD said: “We can confirm Gen Sir David Richards issued a directive about dress and personal appearance.”
KUALA BERANG: A giant fish that supposedly caused the deaths of two men on Tuesday could have been the highly predatory and aggressive arapaima gigas.
Fish biologist Dr Mohd Fadzil Suhaimi Ramli said the natural habitat of the fish which could reach 4.9m was the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of South America.
He said the fish that the locals dubbed as ikan naga due to its features that were similar to the mystical dragon could have been released into the lake by someone when it became too large.
Monster mystery: Azhar Alias, 27, and his brother showing the location in Tasik Kenyir where the giant fish has been sighted.
“Due to its size, this fish preys on local species which are smaller in size,” he told The Star.
Mohd Fahmi said the arapaima would become aggressive when hungry.
Arapaima gigas have an elongated body covered with large, thick scales and a small tail.
Its wide mouth faces upward and the colour ranges from dark brown to black with blue highlights and red edges, particularly on the tail.
It could leap several metres into the air and its powerful head could capsize small boats on impact.
Meanwhile, villagers at Kampung Baung – that borders Tasik Kenyir – claimed that they have witnessed the monstrous arapaima leaping high into the air on several occasions.
A villager who did not want to be named claimed that he had once sighted a giant fish the size of a baby elephant.
Another villager Mohd Fahmi Mustafa, 25, said his grandfather told him that an old Chinese man appeared one day at the village in the late 70s and released two fish that resembled a dragon into the then Kenyir river.
“My grandpa said the old man had claimed that the fish were from overseas and that he had to release them as they had become too big,” he said.
On Tuesday, bird park supervisor Helmi Sukhri Hisham, 28, drowned after he mysteriously fell off his boat.
State Fire and Rescue Department driver Aladi Hasan, 41, who had gone to the lake to search for him, also drowned.
I have sadly had to inform you that two great KOYLI 2 LI veterans have died — http://koyli.com/
In my Malayan news section (Surat Khabar) i have put in a story that yet again, local peat fires in Selangor and forest fires in Indonesia bringing over haze to Malaysia.
So if you are thinking of going to Malaysia its best to enquire about the best time to go, when the burning is least ? – the burning can cause air quality to be VERY poor –
We treated our Amah’s better than this when we were in Melayu
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KUALA LUMPUR–A Malaysian prince has denied abusing his estranged teenage US-Indonesian model wife and threatened to launch legal action against her for making false allegations, his lawyer has said.
Tengku Temenggong Mohammad Fakhry, the prince of Kelantan state, on Thursday lodged a police report in the Malaysian capital denying that he had raped and tortured his 17-year-old wife, his lawyer told the state Bernama news agency.
“A police report has been lodged… we will be contemplating legal action with regard to the false allegation,” said the attorney, Haaziq Pillay.
Manohara Odelia Pinot last week told reporters she was treated like a sex slave after her marriage last year to Tengku Fahkry, whose father is the sultan of Kelantan.
She escaped the prince’s guards at a Singapore hotel and returned to her family in Indonesia with tales of abuse, rape and torture at the hands of the 31-year-old prince.
District Police Chief Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman confirmed to Agence France-Presse that a report had been lodged by the prince and that police would investigate.
“The investigations will be transferred to the Kubang Kerian police station in Kelantan as the incident was alleged to have occurred there and comes under the jurisdiction of the police there,” he added.
Manohara — a well-known socialite in Jakarta — claimed to have been cut with a razor and injected with drugs which made her vomit blood while being held under guard in her bedroom at the palace.
Her lawyer said she had filed a police report on the abuse but Indonesian police say they are unable to investigate as the incidents took place outside their jurisdiction.
An Indonesian forensics expert said Tuesday that Manohara had been physically abused.
Life is very short, Everyday you should tell the one you love ‘How much you love her / him’ It is very important !!
The wife of a friend of mine who had a terminal illness told me that she and her husband who had cancer, Would everyday hold each other and say ‘I love you’, Because each day was precious.
