Long serving Royal Navy sailor honoured

A long serving non-commissioned officer based in Plymouth has been honoured for his exemplary service to the Royal Navy.

Warrant Officer James Honeychurch has been presented with the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for 36 years of service at a ceremony on the museum ship HMS Victory in Portsmouth Naval Base.

He lives in Falmouth, Cornwall, and was presented with his medal by Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock, Second Sea Lord (responsible for the delivery of the Navy’s personnel, equipment and infrastructure).

James was joined at the event by his wife Tracey and said, “I had a fantastic day at HMS Victory being rewarded for valuable service to the Royal Navy with the MSM.’’

Known as Daz in the Navy, he is a damage-control instructor with the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation in Devonport Naval Base.

James has played rugby for the Navy and was in the Devonport Field Gun team, served in Iraq, the Falklands, Balkans and Afghanistan.  

He said a highlight of his career was serving for four years as a ceremonial training officer at Britannia Royal Naval College teaching core values to future officers.

The medal is awarded to military personnel who are of irreproachable character with at least 20 years of service and already hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Awards.