| HMS Forward (1984 shore establishment) | |
|---|---|
|
HMS Forward Guard.jpg The guard of HMS Forward parading at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, on Armed Forces Day 2010. | |
| Career (United Kingdom) |  |
| Name: | HMS Forward |
| Commissioned: | 1 October 1984 as Birmingham Communications Training Centre[1] |
| Reclassified: | |
| Status: | Active |
| Badge: | File:HMS Forward badge.png |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Stone frigate |
HMS Forward is a Royal Naval Reserve unit located in Birmingham, England, close to St. Andrews football stadium. It has a crew of nearly 100 naval and marine reservists, in addition to a handful of full-time staff. The Birmingham University Royal Naval Unit, the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme 'Taurus Squadron' and a detachment of the Royal Marine Reserves Merseyside are also located on the site.[2] The ship is particularly unusual in that it is situated 80 miles from the sea.
History[]
A Royal Naval Reservist from HMS Forward firing a GPMG
The base originated on a different site during the Second World War, and was originally known as the regional Naval Communications Training Centre.[1] On 1 October 1984, the centre became a commissioned ship - a stone frigate - known as HMS Forward.[1] In early 1985, the unit moved to a former industrial unit on Sampson Rd North which, on 28 January 1986, was officially opened by The Princess Royal. The unit once again moved in April 1999, this time to a new purpose-built building. Once again the official opening was performed by The Princess Royal.[2] The ship acquired its name from the motto of the City of Birmingham - Forward.[2] The unit is affiliated with HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer currently in service with the Royal Navy.[3]
Awards and noted events[]
In 2000, the ship won the Richards Trophy, a national seamanship competition, at HMS Raleigh (shore establishment).[4]
In 2004, the ship was granted the Freedom of the City of Birmingham, from John Alden, Lord Mayor of Birmingham.[5]
In 2007, a team from the ship, led by new recruit Jules Morgan, rescued a man with hypothermia from Snowdon in driving hail.[6]
The ship became more famous in recent years when it produced a winner of The Sun Military Awards, Able Seaman Grandison, who won the national award for 'Best Reservist'. Grandison is a taxi-driver in Sandwell, but left his work and contracts to deploy to the Indian Ocean as part of a team to provide armed protection against piracy to RFA Wave Knight. He was later promoted to Leading Hand.[7][8]
Current tasks[]
Being the only large naval presence in the West Midlands, Forward is called upon to act in ceremonial duties and parades, and recently supplied contingents for the Birmingham Trafalgar Day,[9][10][11] Remembrance Day,[12] and Armed Forces Day parades.[13]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Warlow, Ben (2000). Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy. Maritime Books. pp. 12. ISBN 978-0-907771-74-6.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "HMS Forward (Birmingham)". Royal Navy. http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/royal-naval-reserve-2/rnr-units/birmingham-hms-forward/index.htm.
- ↑ Bradley, Paul (9 November 2007). "Birmingham's new warship is state-of-the-art HMS Daring". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham, United Kingdom. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2007/11/09/birmingham-s-new-warship-is-state-of-the-art-hms-daring-97319-20087055/.
- ↑ Worrall, Boris (November 9, 2000). "Seamen on the crest of a wave". Birmingham Evening Mail. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-66796783.html.
- ↑ Tyler, Jane (May 31, 2004). "Freedom of Brum for hero sailors". Birmingham Evening Mail. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-117439147.html.
- ↑ Oliphant, Will (July 27, 2007). "Brum team Forward to the rescue! CLIMBING: Navy reservists save man on mountain". Birmingham Mail. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-166855966.html.
- ↑ "Outstanding Kate's a Millie as well as MC". Navy News. 21 December 2009. http://www.navynews.co.uk/news/649-outstanding-kates-a-millie-as-well-as-mc.aspx.[dead link]
- ↑ "Royal Navy reservist’s award pride". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 17 December 2009. https://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2009/12/17/royal-navy-reservists-award-pride/.
- ↑ "Units mark Trafalgar victory across the country". Navy News. United Kingdom. 23 December 2009. http://www.navynews.co.uk/scc/638-units-mark-trafalgar-victory-across-the-country.aspx.
- ↑ Roberts, Trevor (26 October 2009). "Trafalgar Day parade". Birmingham Post. Birmingham, United Kingdom. http://www.birminghampost.net/news/news-gallery/2009/10/26/trafalgar-day-parade-97319-25017936/.
- ↑ Oliphant, William (26 October 2009). "Parade marks 200th anniversary of unveiling of Birmingham's Lord Nelson statue". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/10/26/parade-marks-200th-anniversary-of-unveiling-of-birmingham-s-lord-nelson-statue-97319-25016257/.
- ↑ Quinton, Darren (9 November 2009). "Day of National Remembrance in Centenary Square". Birmingham Post. Birmingham, United Kingdom. http://www.birminghampost.net/news/news-gallery/2009/11/09/day-of-national-remembrance-in-centenary-square-97319-25125345/.
- ↑ Bradley, Paul (27 June 2009). "Birmingham to show support for Armed Forces". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/06/27/birmingham-to-show-support-for-armed-forces-97319-23997123/.
External links[]
Coordinates: 52°28′38″N 1°51′58″W / 52.4773°N 1.8660°W
The original article can be found at HMS Forward (1984 shore establishment) and the edit history here.