Sailors from the Royal Navy’s Type 22 Frigate HMS Chatham, led by their Commanding Officer, Commander Simon Huntington, took the time during their short visit to Souda Bay, Crete, to visit the Commonwealth War Graves and pay their respects to those who are buried there.
At the cemetery, a short ceremony was conducted which included a reading of “For The Fallen” by Laurence Binyon. Chief Petty Officer ‘Ty’ Stock said “It was quite moving; as the reading was being done grey clouds filled the sky but the rain held off.” This is not the first visit to these war graves for the crew of HMS Chatham, a previous visit was made in 2008 whilst the Ship was deploying to Operation TELIC. For those who were there for the second time it was pleasing to see that a lot of work has been carried out in the car park area and, as always, the cemetery itself was in immaculate condition; testament to the care provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Commander Huntington said “It is only right and proper that we take these opportunities to remember those, not only from Britain but also from across the Commonwealth, who gave their lives fighting for a common cause in conflicts around the world.”
The Ship had a busy 24 hour period alongside the NATO fuelling jetty at Souda Bay, conducting a series of weapon system trials and taking fuel before proceeding to the Suez Canal on her transit to the Gulf of Aden, where she will conduct anti-piracy operations as part of a NATO Task Group.
