Dedication and intelligence lines HMS Lancaster sailor Charlotte up for major award

The petty officer with HMS Lancaster’s starboard crew has played a key role in providing vital intelligence and support to her shipmates which has contributed a great deal to the frigate’s operations in the Middle East.

Her outstanding contribution to the warship’s patrols have fittingly seen her named a finalist in the outstanding contribution category – up taking against two other inspiring females involved in UK defence.

As a cryptological technician Charlotte – or any other member of her branch – doesn’t step into the limelight very often.

But the work she and her team perform aboard the frigate on patrols of the Indian Ocean/Gulf and the information provided to the command team has been described as “exceptional” by Commander Chris Chew, the Red Rose frigate’s Commanding Officer, who has been impressed by the senior rating’s devotion and attitude.

The nature of her role as Lancaster’s Special Intelligence Office Manager in a challenging part of the world with tensions at their highest in many years means she’s routinely been awake for 24 hours on duty – all the while, says Cdr Chew, demonstrating “incredible rigour” as well as cheerfulness in the face of adversity and full commitment to a task that routinely saw her awake for 24 hours.

He said Charlotte had “seamlessly managed intelligence for vastly different operational tasking – including counter-smuggling operations – as well as ably supporting two very-short-notice transits of particularly increased threat areas”.