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Brothers take the plunge together in Arctic rite of passage
28 January 2026
Military brothers Josh and Ollie Morris from Bath were plunged through a hole in the Arctic ice as they completed a rite of passage together during operations in Northern Norway.
Royal Navy Lieutenant Josh and Royal Marine Ollie are part of a 1,500-strong deployment to Norway as part of bolstered NATO efforts aimed at the protection of the UK ally.
To test responses to cold shock, all ranks must go through the infamous 'ice breaking drill’ - jumping into freezing water and climbing out unassisted to understand what happens to the body when the ice breaks and they need to react.
The Somerset brothers have spent the past month working in the Arctic – where temperatures regularly drop below -20C and the sun barely rises at the start of the year and, even now, daylight lasts just four hours.
The pair took the plunge together near the air station at Bardufoss – some 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle – in a huge moment of pride for the Bath family.
Josh said: “As kids we were often running around the hills in camouflage, building dens and going on camping adventures, so it was obvious at an early age that we were both going to join the military.
“Twenty years later, it’s been brilliant to finally have our careers cross paths out here in Norway.
“Going through the ice breaker drills together brought a real sense of nostalgia —it’s a proud moment for us both to be doing this side-by-side.”
Josh is a repair officer with 1710 Naval Air Squadron in Portsmouth, while marine Ollie is attached to the Commando Helicopter Force’s Information Warfare Troop based in Yeovilton.
To ensure that personnel are ready to face the Arctic conditions they must undergo intensive training in extreme cold weather survival and combat during what’s known as Operation Clockwork.
Ollie has previously completed the ice breaking drill as part of the training – known as the Cold Weather Aviation Operators Course – but decided that it would be worthwhile to take the plunge once again side-by-side with his brother.
Ultimately, the intrepid pair are part of a large-scale NATO operation lasting until the end of March, which will involve some 25,000 troops from 14 nations.