It was around autumn last year that I bumped in to David via Email. He took on the role of Chief Editor and Poster for my other website "Locknload". Many of you would have read his wordsworth qualities and he didnt suffer fools gladly, especially those involved with the establishment. Hence his "handle" Gong Donkey.......

David was battling with severe Liver problems and in the early part of 2011 a transplant became available and he came out of that a lot luckier than most. His health gradually improved and he was in fighting spirit and enjoying life to the full. His daily ingestion of pharmaceuticals gradually diminished to a manageable amount. Gail constantly by his side and putting up with his "Gripes".......

A few weeks ago he was taken in to hospital re an unexpected Brain Aneurism. He called me via his cell phone last Wednesday 3rd hoping to get back home last weekend and was "edging nearer to the door"... I received a call from his wife Gail on Monday 8th when she told me that David had collapsed in hospital over the weekend and was basically on life support.

Today having received another email via his sister Dawne to inform all his friends from his wife Gail that;

14th August

"Peter - can you please send a round robin for Gail for Dave Hughes please?
Dave is still in NICU on a ventilator - there are no changes in his very ill condition. It is going to be a long journey
Thank you
Dawne (Gail's sister) "

29th August

"Dave is now off the ventilator, and breathing on his own via a tracheostomy. He can see and hear all around but is unable to control himself from the neck down. Hopefully his movement etc will return as the days pass. Still tubed up but unable to speak. All his cards are most welcome and are shown and read to him, a wry smile appears but he has his good and bad days. Brain scans and Liver tests are due in this week sometime then we will know exactly what condition he is in. Keep sending the cards, letters etc as this does help him and keep him in touch with the outside world and that his mates and colleagues are thinking of him.
Many Thanks
Gail (Daves wife)

17th September (16:10)

He is still in Sheffield Hallamshire hospital but is starting to make a little progress , he has been off the machines now for a couple of weeks but its taken its toll, he has a trackie tube in his throat to enable him to breathe and every day or so they block it to allow him to talk to his wife but he is having trouble controlling his breathing, what with every thing that was going on at the time when he was critical the doctors think he suffered a stroke on top of everything else which has left him with very little movement ( leg & fingers) i spoke to his son yesterday and the doc's are looking at transferring him back to a hospital near to his home which is a forward step as its about a 40 mile round trip every day for his wife and means that he doesnt need the specialist care that the Hallam provide its not great news Frank but at least he is fighting it.

17th September (23:26)

David has been transfered to Doncaster Royal Infirmary on C.C.U.ward now. He as been fed some light food & drinks todayThey have put a cuff in his trackie so he can talk a little. It is very tiring at times for him,but all positve & amove forward! Some  times he is confused &conversation drifts (doesnt make sense) but they say this can be quite normal after what he asbeen through. Its early days & a long hard journey lays ahead, but what agreat step forward in 24hrs!
Foxnwolf comments;

David you old wrangler, remember it your fault that I am about to spend around £200k on a boat. You got me interested in the water at my age. So, you also remember that there is a spare seat for you, to the right of me on the Fly Bridge.......

For those of you who may have not yet sent cards, magazines etc This would now be a gesture to show that we care (any previous cards were gratefully received). Cards to David & Gail to the Address as follows;

Please keep the cards & letters flowing, to;

David & Gail Hughes

Westview
West Street
Misson
Doncaster

DN10 6DX

PMPT & Semper Fi.......

You may be interested in reading this petition and supporting it. 

The recent Forces Pension Society newsletter tells of an RPI/CPI e-petition which has been established hoping to reverse the Government's decision to link pension increases to CPI instead of RPI.  The Government will debate e-petitions that achieve 100,000 signatures, so please can you pass on the following link to ex-servicemen that you know in the hope that they'll sign it, as it affects all of us.  The link is:

Lieutenant-Colonel 'Pug' Davis

She's also a bargain - £35m to run for the next four years. 

Life is breathed back in Lusty

23 May 2011

AFTER a £40m revamp, Britain’s only aircraft carrier will return to sea on June 3 to start down the year-long road back to front-line duties.

HMS Illustrious hasn’t been seen at sea since the beginning of 2010 when she sailed to Rosyth for a 16-month refit in the hands of Babcock.

Lusty was due to emerge from her refit as the nation’s strike carrier, taking over from HMS Ark Royal.

Last autumn’s defence review put the kibosh on those plans – and saw Ark axed as well as her Harriers. The review also meant Illustrious’ refit plans had to be re-drawn.

Instead of returning from Rosyth as a Harrier carrier, she’ll return to business as a helicopter assault ship, relieving HMS Ocean.

It took a couple of months following October’s review to incorporate the changes into Lusty’s refit, but since the turn of the year in particular, the ship has been a hive of activity.

When 2011 opened there were just 150 ship’s company (fewer than a quarter of her typical complement) living ashore at nearby HMS Caledonia.

Numbers quickly doubled and, with work sufficiently progressed and ‘domestic functions’ working once more – heating, lighting water, galleys – the sailors moved back on board on February 22  to the sound of pipe and drum.

“At that moment Lusty began to come alive once more,” said Cdr Richard Winter, the carrier’s weapon engineer officer.

Since then the ship’s company has almost doubled in size again – it’s nearly 600-strong now, just 50 or so short of the normal complement – with Capt Jerry Kyd joining as Commanding Officer from Ark Royal.

Work carried out since the revamp began early last year includes super-efficient paint applied to the hull which will mean the 20,000-ton warship will cut through the ocean faster – cutting her fuel bill in the process.

Living quarters have been spruced up, the latest MOD computer system (DII) fitted throughout the ship – no mean task as Illustrious was designed in the pre-personal computer age – 500m (1,640ft) of pipework replaced, plus 650 valves and all eight exhausts.

All well and good, but all that technology and equipment is no good without Jack and Jenny. Lusty’s sailors have been conducting extensive training: fire and flood, duty watches, firearms, personal protection, engineering trials, machinery brought back to life, the ops room, flight deck and hangar restored to normal.

At the same time Illustrious’ soul has been revived by personalising mess spaces, sporting activities, morning prayers and Sunday services, and the daily rituals of Colours and Sunset.

More than 200 Sea Cadets (including 71 in one go) have toured the carrier, as well as local VIPs and school children.

“The message from everyone aboard HMS Illustrious is clear – despite what you may read or hear: Lusty is on her way back to the Fleet,” said Cdr Winter.

“A nearly-600-strong ship’s company is working extremely hard to ensure that Illustrious sails from Rosyth on June 3rd for sea trials before rejoining the Fleet at the end of July.

“No doubt many people will be pleased to see Lusty back in her home port, proud and ready to serve the nation once again.”

After the initial period of trials and return to the Solent, Illustrious will be alongside until the autumn when rigorous trials and training begin in earnest.

She’s due to take over from Ocean as the nation’s on-call helicopter carrier from the summer of 2012.

Illustrious' ship's company move back on board. Picture: LA(Phot) Dean Nixon, HMS Illustrious

All 12 episodes of "An Ungentlemanly Act" have been moved over to Foxnwolf.com as there was far too much of a drain on data transfer from this blog site. I have placed the links below which will direct you to Foxnwolf and play the episode you wish to watch.

Otherwise just go to the "Tribute" section on Foxnwolf.com and check the links in the top left column under "Royal Marines" I have placed an extra section there for this great series concerning the Bootnecks & the Argies.

You will almost certainly have heard by now of the horrific shooting incident that occurred onboard HMS ASTUTE alongside in Southampton last Friday which resulted in the death of the WEO (Lt Cdr Ian Molyneux), the serious wounding of the MEO (Lt Cdr Chris Hodge), and the arrest of a member of the ship’s company on several counts of murder and attempted murder. I have no doubt that you have been as shocked as I was by the occurrence and I thought that you might appreciate a little background and perspective against which to frame your understanding of what occurred and how it is now being managed.......

Shopkeeper praised by judge for 'bravery'

A shopkeeper who fought off a masked knife-wielding robber has been praised by a judge.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Edward McGinnis, 68, pulled the scarf hiding the attacker's face, hit him with a baseball bat and drove him out of the store in Bo'ness.

The lawyer defending Stephen Garven, said: "He commendably took the law into his own hands."

Lord Malcolm said Mr Mcginnis had responded with "admirable bravery".

Jailing Garven, 22, for four years, the judge told him: "Mr McGinnis responded with admirable bravery by pulling the scarf from your face, ignoring the large knife you were brandishing and chasing you off with a baseball bat."

At an earlier hearing, the High Court in Edinburgh was told that Mr McGinnis had been unable to stop Garven fleeing with £170, but his actions had enabled police to recognise Garven's face from the store's CCTV security camera.

Defence advocate Derrick Nelson said Mr McGinnis also recognised Garven as a customer at the shop.

The lawyer said, Garven was desperate because he was being hounded over a drug debt and threatening messages had been left on the telephone answering machine at his mother's house.

Garven appeared from custody and admitted the raid on the Hillcrest Store in Bo'ness, West Lothian, on 4 December last year.

Advocate depute Michael Stuart, prosecuting, told the court how Mr McGinnis was left in charge of the family-run shop.

During the afternoon a man bought tobacco while Garven lurked outside.

When Mr McGinnis opened the till to give the customer change, Garven rushed in yelling to the shopkeeper not to close the till and brandishing a kitchen knife.

'Dire straights'

Garven then leaned over and grabbed a handful of £10 and £20 notes.

The court heard that the accused wore a black scarf which covered his neck and face to just below the eyes.

Mr Stuart said: "Mr McGinnis pulled at the scarf to uncover the accused's face before striking him on the body with a baseball bat which he retrieved from behind the counter."

When police caught up with Garven he told them he was in "dire straights" because he owed £650 to drug dealers in Glasgow.

When he realised that police were after him he panicked and threw the cash and the clothes he had been wearing into the sea.

The court heard that Garven had a record for break-ins and also has previous convictions for assault and carrying weapons.

Foxnwolf comments;

Well done Eddie. Polish it up for the next one.......

click here for your baseball bat from £25.99 including vat for 33inches of Canadian Ash & American Maple = "bloody hard bat"

It is with regret I have to inform you that Roger Tyack, former RSM in the Corps passed away at 05:50 hours on Friday 15^th April 2011.

The funeral of the late Roger Tyack is on Tuesday 3^rd May 2011 at 10:00 hours at;

Barham Crematorium
Canterbury Road (A260)
Barham
Kent
CT4 6QU

Tel; 01227 831 351
Fax; 01227 830 258

On Thursday, 24th January 2002, Derek Guille broadcast this story on his afternoon program on ABC radio.

In March 1999 a man living in Kandos (near Mudgee in NSW, Australia) received a bill for his as yet unused gas line stating that he owed $0.00. 

He ignored it and threw it away. In April he received another bill and threw that one away too.

The following month the gas company sent him a very nasty note stating that they were going to cancel his gas line if he didn't send them $0.00 by return mail.

He called them, talked to them, and they said it was a computer error and they would take care of it.

The following month he decided that it was about time that he tried out the troublesome gas line figuring that if there was usage on the account it would put an end to this ridiculous predicament.

However, when he went to use the gas, it had been cut off..

He called the gas company who apologised for the computer error once again and said that they would take care of it. The next day he got a bill for $0.00 stating that payment was now overdue.

Assuming that having spoken to them the previous day the latest bill was yet another mistake, he ignored it, trusting that the company would be as good as their word and sort the problem out.

The next month he got a bill for $0.00. This bill also stated that he had 10 days to pay his account or the company would have to take steps to recover the debt.

Finally, giving in, he thought he would beat the gas company at their own game and mailed them a cheque for $0.00. The computer duly processed his account and returned a statement to the effect that he now owed the gas company nothing at all.

A week later, the manager of the Mudgee branch of the Westpac Banking Corporation called our hapless friend and asked him what he was doing writing cheque for $0.00.

After a lengthy explanation the bank manager replied that the $0.00 cheque had caused their cheque processing software to fail. The bank could therefore not process ANY cheques they had received from ANY of their customers that day because the cheque for $0.00 had caused the computer to crash.

The following month the man received a letter from the gas company claiming that his cheque had bounced and that he now owed them $0.00 and unless he sent a cheque by return mail they would take immediate steps to recover the debt.

At this point, the man decided to file a debt harassment claim against the gas company. It took him nearly two hours to convince the clerks at the local courthouse that he was not joking.

They subsequently helped him in the drafting of statements which were considered substantive evidence of the aggravation and difficulties he had been forced to endure during this debacle.

The matter was heard in the Magistrate's Court in Mudgee and the outcome was this:

The gas company was ordered to: 

[1] Immediately rectify their computerized accounts system or Show Cause, within 10 days, why the matter should not be referred to a higher court for consideration under Company Law. 
[2] Pay the bank dishonour fees incurred by the man. 
[3] Pay the bank dishonour fees incurred by all the Westpac clients whose cheques had been bounced on the day our friend's had been processed.       
[4] Pay the claimant's court costs; and

[5] Pay the claimant a total of $1500 per month for the 5 month period March to July inclusive as compensation for the aggravation they had caused their client to suffer.

And all this over $0.00

This story can also be viewed on the ABC website - Who employs these idiots?? 
                               
Remember, these "people" walk among us and breathe the same air we do, and they BREED!!!

Dear Peter

A friend of both you and I, Keir Hardie (RM ret'd) suggested that I contact you to see if you might be willing to help the above cause by publicising it through your network of contacts/websites.

A recent post - He took a job knowing he would never get rich. He's missed out on many holidays and special occasions in order to protect lives. He was expected to lay down his life or take a life if necessary. It has been proven that his life expectancy is shorter than yours because of everything he went through. And some think he's not deserving of his pension, or health care benefits. (This also applies to service ladies, of course.)

Mick Clarke an ex-RLC Sergeant has had a pretty rough time of it and is suffering badly from the consequences of his long service career. He has found life very tough since being leaving the mob and started the cause on Facebook to try and help others like him as much as for his own benefit. There are many ex-servicemen and women that deserve better having given so much for their country (and other countries!) and they seem to be at the bottom of the heap when it comes to support from the government - the druggies, the  spongers and the scroungers seem to fare much better having given nothing...

The aim is to try and recruit 100,000 members and then try to convert them a quickly as possible to signatories to a Westminster petition (once it is launched). The window for the e-petition is limited and if it can get 100,000 signatories then apparently a question must be raised in parliament. We also would like to locate well-known faces that have a military career/background be they sports/media/entertainment/politics/etc - anyone willing to help to bring the cause the attention of the media.

I have suggested that a formal parade of ex-servicemen could be organised in London (taking the route of the Remembrance Day parade) - though given recent peaceful protests being hijacked I'm not so sure. However, it could be possible and the event could pay it's respects to the fallen as it would pass the Cenotaph. It may not be easy to mobilise ex-servicemen but if there's a potential financial benefit to them all it may just prove possible.

For my part I served in the RAF for 21 years as an aircraft technician reaching the dizzy heights of Sergeant in 1989 and serving on until 1997. I saw this cause and decided to get involved as I am fit (?) and able unlike many of our former colleagues.

Please take a moment to visit this website and if you can assist in any way, no matter how small your support would be much appreciated.

http://www.causes.com/causes/525673-make-forces-pensions-past-present-tax-free?m=1f955714

Kindest Regards

Tez Watson

Foxnwolf comments;

Thanx Tez for contacting me, I fully support this cause (not that I need the cash but for rightly those that do) If there is anything else you want me to post just let me know.......

PMPT & Semper Fi.......

ANTHONY MALONE
on

"HUNGER STRIKE"

British Services get a bum deal re PENSIONS

Sergeant Matthew Telford of the Grenadier Guards was promoted to that rank in June 2009. In November of that same year, Sergeant Telford was one of 5 British soldiers killed when a rogue Afghan policeman opened fire on them. His wife and family will only receive a Corporal's pension since he only held his rank of Sergeant for less than a year. However, he was killed on operations by the enemy whilst wearing three stripes of a Sergeant on active service.

Please sign the petition below to support a change in the rules that deny a hero’s widow the pension she deserves.

 

 

Best Regards 

AFPG Ltd. Director - Membership Secretary

The ambulance driver wouldn’t let the female paramedic out of the ambulance because she couldn’t stop laughing,

"he said it wasn’t professional" 

The only Royal Marine EVER to win Distinguished Flying Medal

MPs Block Military Covenant

Friday, February 18, 2011

Labour rounded on the government after ministers blocked a proposal to enshrine the "military covenant" into law. The Royal British Legion had led calls for David Cameron to keep a promise he made in June to codify the covenant, the bond between a nation and its armed forces, into a legal document. But the coalition government has decided that the covenant can be covered in an annual report to parliament, and does not need to be put onto the statute books.

Labour tried to get ministers to change their minds, and used an opposition day debate on the armed forces bill to demand a U-turn. This was defeated by 86 votes. Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said: "This has been a bad week for our armed forces. Soldiers have been sacked by email, RAF trainees sacked by media leak and now the government has broken its promise to enshrine the covenant in law. "Ten months in and they have lost the courage of their convictions. The charities and families who wanted a legally defined covenant and will be deeply disappointed. We will judge this government on actions not words and we will continue to campaign for a legally enshrined military covenant." During the debate the defence secretary, Liam Fox, told MPs that the government would improve and develop the covenant. But he added: "It cannot be a wish list separated form the economic reality in which we find ourselves." He said the covenant could not "ignore the financial predicament" and went on to criticise the economic legacy Labour left the coalition – and its treatment of the military during its 13 years in power. Fox added: "Their response to equipping our forces was often too little too late, their spending priorities were wrong and there was too much waste and inadequate budgetary control." Last week the Royal British Legion said the government had backtracked on its promise over the covenant, and accused it of significantly watering down its proposals. Chris Simpkins, the charity's director, told the Guardian: "I don't doubt them when they say they care about the armed forces. The challenge for them is to demonstrate it. Their proposals for the military covenant feel like a U-turn."

I'm sitting here at 11:30 p.m. with a big bowl of pasta and a large beer, with the radio tuned to Test Match Special.
For no other reason that I am waiting for the Australian Ashes team to resemble the participants in the Sydney Gay Parade ........ limping along with someone shoving a dildo the size of a Gunn & Moore cricket bat right up their jacksie ! Without the KY jelly !
Oh - what joy !
You can almost hear the dentures of Lillee, Thompson, the Chapells, the Waughs and the other larrikins clack together in disappointment. Hear the rattle carrying on the breeze? That's the Don spinning in his grave !
Poor Australians - NOT !
Never mind guys - there's always Bangla Desh or Zimbabwe to beat !
Tee hee hee !

“Mr Crane has today pleaded guilty to defrauding the Commonwealth and ordered to pay back more than $413,000 for falsely claiming he was a prisoner of the Japanese during the Second World War,” Mr Snowdon said.

Mr Crane has been sentenced to four years jail and can be released after serving six months upon entering a good behaviour bond for four years.  He was also ordered to pay the Commonwealth more than $413,000 in falsely claimed pension.

“The Australian Government takes very seriously the recognition and respect of those who have served our country and has no tolerance for those who fraudulently claim that recognition,” Mr Snowdon said.

“The Department of Veterans’ Affairs works hard to ensure that veterans receive their lawful entitlements.  All allegations of fraud are investigated thoroughly.”

The Department has a dedicated compliance section that investigates all suspected cases of fraudulent activity.  Other ongoing measures that act as a deterrent are proof of identify checks, and departmentally initiated reviews.

“Incidences of fraud are very isolated and today’s sentence should be a warning about the serious penalties involved in defrauding the Commonwealth,” Mr Snowdon said.

3 Commando Brigade to replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in Helmand

3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines will replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in April 2011 as the lead formation of British troops in Helmand province, Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has announced this week.

Many thousands of RMs, both officers and men will be disgusted that the proposed future Duke of Edinburgh will be that poofter 'Edward who is supposedly going to be our future Captain General RM.

I thought I would send these 3 photos from Singapore during my visit to Kranji.  I laid poppies where ever I came across an ex-Royal Marine's grave, and some on Johnny Ghurka's.  It took quite a while and the heat was fierce.  I certainly felt my age by the time I had gone round the whole area.  It is a very beautiful spot and kept immaculate by local ground staff.  I am staying with the grandson of the original caretaker who was appointed by Lord Mountbatten at the end of the Japanese occupation in recognition for his services to British and Commonwealth soldiers and POWs.  This place is still visited by veterans from Britain and Australia and it is good to know that these old vets never forget old comrades.

 

p.s. my protest is a silent protest because if I start ranting at people I`ll lose it, probably start swearing and I dont want to demean the dignity of the memorial. I would appreciate any support, whether here or directly to the MOD.......

I am writing to ask if any of your reader`s know what will become of the commemerative stain glass church window in the Church at RAF Kinloss and how will relatives be able to retain the connection with their bereaved ones if the station is closed?
Regards Keir.