The Face of British Foreign Aid:
A justification for dedicated Disaster Relief ships

On 6th February 1975, Hurricane Gervaise swept over the island of Mauritius, causing widespread destruction, killing ten of the inhabitants, injuring many more and making thousands homeless. Two days later, on 8th February, the American fleet support ship USS Camden arrived and immediately sent teams ashore to help recover the situation. Two days after that the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau arrived and offered help followed the day after, on 11th February, by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which took control of the disaster relief operation from the Camden.

​As the 1st mate aboard a British cargo ship, I visited the island a few months later and spoke to several of the locals about the effects of the hurricane and the efforts required to put things right. They regaled me with the way the Americans had come in with their combat helicopters, re-installed the toppled communication masts, distributed food, fresh water and other aid around the island and how teams of American sailors came ashore to help with medical aid and the reconstruction effort to house the displaced. Even the French had offered a hand. Then with a curl of the lip they described how, several weeks after the event, a lone British frigate had turned up and asked if they could be of any assistance! I still remember that my feeling at the time was one of shame.

​Defence UK Director, Fred Dupuy, was the young Merchant Navy Officer concerned. Click on the button for the rest of the article which includes proposals for the answer to this issue.​

message for armed forces day


​Today is the day not just to celebrate and thank Britain's armed forces but also to remember that without adequate resources our military capabilities will continue to diminish, thus harming the UK's global reach and influence, and leaving our forces dangerously overstretched in the event of any future emergency or increase in threats to our security, our trade, our food and energy supplies, and our economic interests.
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MISSION STATEMENT:

“Defence UK is an independent pressure group that campaigns for a strong and well-resourced Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, to ensure the security of the United Kingdom, her Sovereign Territories, trade and commerce, and to protect her citizens wherever they may be. We also call for a greater commitment by the UK Government to the nation's defence industries, and to non-military services such as the Merchant Navy, Coastguard, Border Control and Homeland Security that are essential to the Defence of the Realm.”
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